STATE OPERATION OF AIR SERVICES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23258, 20 July 1945, Page 5

STATE OPERATION OF AIR SERVICES

Federal Bill Claims Wide Powe. 3 Commission To T>o Set Up (7.30 p.m.) CANBERRA. July 19. ilr' I ,i nH hi >ll w ea 11 h (’inei iimei.. will appoint i <".iminission of fnc. to In- knov.n as llw If 'Lilian X:dior:il Air I.inns C"mmi.—-ion. to couti 4 and opcr.ilo lhe \u-lia-lian iidcr-S .itc air line service;-. It has poo. is to (■-!;,ldish and maintain air services, which car. be .tended la ci. .'er international sen ices, ].|i| the-e are not to be subject to the same limila’ions as are imposed on inter-Mate route, lhe commission s actions are subject to Ministerial direction in major matter-. The Government s intentions in the nationalisation of these airwavs are outlined in the Australian National Air Lines Bill introduce?! in the House of RepiesentaL.'es t the Minister of Air (Mr A. S. Drakelord). Mr Drakeford said that the nationalisation of these airlines was justified by the Government, on four grounds These were the G overnment’.- social obligation to the nation, its economic obligation a national development air national defence. Socialisation in any form was anathema to members of the O"I'ion. but if Australia had de-

pended on private enterprise to organise the C'-'ntry for war, we would not ha: e accomplished one fraction of our marvellous war effort. One had to ask “i . national ownership and control of civil aviation preferable to a private monopoly?” The Canadian and South African Governments, he continued, owned the airlines of those countries. New Zea land intended to nationalise its air services and the British Labour Party was committed to a similar policy. “We are proud to introduce this Bill which is honest and constructive and has a ajor national obj >ct.” said Mr Drake! rd. “Aviation is now part of the very core of the economic, social, diplomatic and defence policy of the nation. This Bill is comparable to those which gave the Australian Government control of the postal services and railways. “Far-reaching powers are end cd to the commission. It can compulsorily acquire aircraft, and other property, excluding land, and the owners will be compensated. The Minister may direct the commission to establish, or alter, or continue to maintain any particular air service. The commission will be charged ith the responsibility of providing efficient, economicallyoperated air line services between the States, between the States and Commonwealth territories and within the Commonwealth territories. “A provision is made in the Bill for the irr.tial appropriation of £3.000,000 from wl ich advances will be made to the commission to enable it to establish and operate its .scheduled air transport services.” Mr Drakefc.rd said that after the commencement of the Act no new licences for air lines would be issued to persons other than the commission, „ the contractor < the commission, authorising 'he carriage between any stopping pl as on the commission's se vices of certain classes of traffic which the commission's set" ices are capable of handling adequately. The Minister said that where an air line li- nee was issued Io the elmmission for anv air line service ant? ised by the Bill, and rhe comn i had establish; Liat 'Vt'e. ... line licence b . . ' i-- 'lter ; that 'ailed it sto the commission w leal! dered inoperative. “It ".'ill - 1 - therefore, that the existin licences arc not affected ’ except insofar as the sei’ ’ under these licences traffic which :.- adequately pr. by the commission's services,” ne a-.' 1 - ed. . The commission will appoint ago i. manager, who will be chief executive officer of tile commission. The commission. in regard to airline services, will b“ treated under the Air Navigation Regulations the same way as 11 it w a orivate company. Private cc'np” i'nmot compete on the ro’u operated bv the commisiion. : ; - v penalty is provided. New iniiuis Bought Abroad State Will Take Over (Rec. 8.10 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 19. The Commonwealth Government, it is understood, is prepared to take over new airliners ordered abroad by private enterprise as soon as its Bill nationalising the inter-State airlines becomes law. Several private companies, anticipation ;; ,ti .i.-cd civilian air trove! inter rhe ’'c-.c already lodged orders for tin- most mcdi'in aircraft. These air- , v-iii if the Commonweal,.) surthe Cl: I.' the air comp .aes T.tcnd to make in tne High Cjurt .- oust the legality of the proposed ie-0.-l tion. become the property o, the Government. , ~ l he CL,) eminent already owns the 1ino--: modem passenger transport ulanes ■ n ■'u-,which at present are li ;..-cd to commercial companies. In addition, 'he Government t!ir.'ii"i. the Ft.A A r 'J’ransport Command has built up a substantial reserve oi p vonncl. It is expected that s'eciai jittimpts will be made to attract iiese R.A.A.F.trained men to service wit.', tne PiOposed airlines commission. . lie' Sydney Sun” -d i; a i-t.ramii .ii rale voi s opposition to the proposed ,';ouaialisation of airlines. The piper ~ - iliat the practice tn all democratic emailri-s has shown that private nter.i’.is.- lias iwen the basis of sue s-n s. . . I;i a m \\. ( r and adds: “To Giose wlio look to a golden socialistic t"ture. ' ..tici-i il’sation o: tne airlines locks ir tt.' nvlred. but let tin' gi.ieral .lIS,I ,'ver iiiim experience of the present and ini- past regard it as another Go\eriimeiit Dei rfment and ho will see it iueviiably cierstaffed, living by rein public omnion without the spur hi , Iw, petition in cut costs - which can ini V oxan'ple a of"iie assumption IDt the Govtcinwi'.’. ownership oi uiriir.C'- will m-'.uly * everybody. Mr S. 1 )vn kef orris u.<iy puss among I hose wiio prefer mil a 1 cs oi the hope ii spri’H’s 'Hrr’Bil to the logic of Pi k ;»l ex;MHience ”