CIVIL AVIATION.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17662, 13 August 1929, Page 4

CIVIL AVIATION.

The proposals outlined by the Minister of Defence in Parliament for the encouragement of civil aviation opens 1 up avenues for exploring various practical questions involved in the development of flying in this country. No doubt a first essential is the provision of ' suitable landing places, and that is a matter for local enterprise. Assuming that these can be provided, there may be some difficulty in reconciling the' rival interests of military aviation, commercial enterprises and private aeroplaning. In general, it is presumed that the landing places will be common to all. That will require careful regulation, and some basis of revenue which will enable the local authorities to maintain and develop flying stations. As w.e have never done anything of the kind before, we must be content in the beginning to borrow our ideas from more experienced communities and adapt them to suit our own peculiar conditions. The Minister himself admits that the Bill is “a shot in the dark,” and' it is very plain that this is the case. Great care will be' required to ensure that the public interest is fully safeguarded.