The Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1926. AN IMPERIAL AIR POLICY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17833, 29 April 1926, Page 8

The Star. THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 1926. AN IMPERIAL AIR POLICY.

The Royal Ground Force, as one English paper slightingly referred to Britain's air service, has been coming in for some very hard knocks of late, and it is quite likely that a very great improvement will be effected as the result of recent discussions. Even more interesting, however, than the purely military air policy of Great Britain is the question of commercial flying within the Empire. By the English mail to-day the Air League of the British Empire, which was incorporated as long ago as 1909, has sent out an appeal for co-operation in the very important work in which it is engaged. There is no doubt that the successful establishment of commercial flying throughout the Empire would help in the solution of many of the problems concerned with the development of the Empire. The merchant air fleet of the future, as the Air League points Out, would not only provide a reserve and protect lines of communication in warfare, but also assist in policing the Empire and improving its communications. Empire air routes would also bring closer the possibility of an Empire Parliament, as the members might meet at some central spot within the Empire with comparatively little inconvenience. There is something very attractive in the possibility of closer communication between Australia and New Zealand and the Old Country. Mr Allan Cobham’s flight to Australia will be of greater commercial interest than Ross Smith’s great flight, for it will be an attempt to show what may be done by organised relays in comparatively shortdistance flights. There is no doubt that Britain and the Dominions should be thinking aerially at present, but it is significant that whereas in France there is an Air League of over 1,000.000 members, Britain has had hard work to raise 5000. New Zealand will have to wait for a lead from the Old Country in regard to the development of commercial aviation, and will watch with interest the agitation for a committee to take evidence as to an Empire air policy in the matter of commercial flying. State assistance would have to be given to this aspect of aviation, but there is little doubt that the enterprise in time would be put on a'sound commercial basis.

The three millionth visitor to the Dunedin Exhibition has set a mark that not even the most sanguine promoter hoped to roach, and it may be said that the exhibition has been remarkably successful from a financial point of view. It is a moot point, of course, whether exhibitions are worth while, in a general sense, but they are undoubtedly of high educative value, even if they have to put a heavy chocolate coating on the pill. In so far as the Dunedin Exhibition has attracted overseas visitors to New Zealand, it has done a national service. From a Dominion point of view, it has diverted practically the whole of the holiday traffic southwards, and incidentally has starved the usual tourist resorts to a considerable extent. Indeed, the dislocation of business, even in Dunedin, has been marked, and the trade centre has shifted towards the Exhibition. It is a question whether the southern city will benefit permanently from what, in some respects, may be regarded as a period of prodigal spending, especially on the lighter side of the Exhibition, but as a set-off to the slump that may he expected when the show closes down on Saturday night, the city will find itself with tangible assets in the shape of a very fine new sports ground, and a permanent art gallery, and other buildings, not to mention very pleasant memories of an event that may help to make this Scottish city a little less serious for the future.