IMPROVED AIR ROUTES UNDER DISCUSSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17991, 30 October 1926, Page 13

IMPROVED AIR ROUTES UNDER DISCUSSION.

Aus. and K.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 28. The full conference devoted the morning session to aviation. The reports of the dominion delegates will be issued to-morrow in full. Mr Mackenzie King emphasised the great progress in the use of aeroplanes for surveying and photographing unknown areas, and discovering and combating forest fires. Mr Bruce detailed the amazing extension in Australia where flying was long past the experimental stage, and had become part of country life. He said: “It is no more difficult to take an aeroplane in order to shorten my journey to England than to call a taxi.” He paid a tribute to Sir Ross Smith and Sir Keith Smith, to Parer and Macintosh as well as Sir Alan Cobham's recent feat. Mr Coates admitted that New Zealand was somewhat backward in aviation. Hitherto it had only been considered from the point of view of utility in the defence of the country, and not as a commercial proposition. Sir Samuel Hoare pointed out that there was no technical reason why the journey to Canada should not be re* duced to two and a half days, and the journey to India five days, Cape Town six, Australia eleven and New Zealand thirteen days. He emphasised the necessity for the erection of mooring masts throughout the Empire in readiness for the airship services. The discussion is officially described as bringing home the immense advance in flying since the 1923 conference, revealing a unanimous desire everywhere to assist in opening up inter-imperial airwise communications. The nurse’s ball at Australia House which was organised by Lady Cook, was attended by Mr and Mrs Baldwin, Mr and Mrs Araery, Lord and Lady Novar and all the dominion Prime Ministers with the exception of J\jTr Cosgrove, the Agents-General, and the Maharajah and Maharanee of Burdwan.