CIVIL AVIATION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 63, 17 March 1943, Page 1

CIVIL AVIATION

PLEA FOR GENEROSITY TO . DOMINIONS (Special Correspondent—N.Z.P.A.) London, March 12. ‘This question is dynamite,” declared the Secretary for Air, Sir ArohiixL'd Sinclair, in the House ot Commons in making his announcement on civil aviation which Lord Cranborne also made in the House of Lords. The Government’s statement is the more welcome on that account; it will do much to allay feelings of uneasiness that Britain might be left far behind America after the war. Mr. W. J. Jordan, High Commissioner for New Zealand, attended the preliminary discussions, when the Dominions were consulted. He is keeping the New Zealand Government informed. The Commons debate reflected somewhat contused ideas regarding the subject. Some speakers advocated a separate Ministry lor civil aviation and expressed the hope that it would be kept separate from shipping and railway influences. Others stated that the shipping companies already had a world-wide organisation which would be useful. Otners again criticised the British Overseas Airways Corporation and advocated private enterprise, as in America. Lord Rothermere declared in the House of Lords that the first task was to try to work out a service in the British Empire. "We should be extremely generous to the Dominions in this matter," he said. “There are in the R.A.F. magnificent Australian, New Zealand and Canadian pilots. They have a right to a proper share of post-war Empire aviation.” The correspondent of the Dally Mail expresses the opinion that the British Government's plans are designed to keep British civil flying well abreast of future developments in aviation. The last word in airliners at present is the Douglas DC 3, which seats 21 passengers, is capable of 2000 miles in cne hop et 190 to 220 miles an hour, and can climb 21,900 feet. "It is now possible to build a British version of this type before the end ot the war for Continental and Empire routes, though not for the Atlantic,” he says “Air freighters for service from Britain to Australia and New Zealand might take the form of the Mars flying-boat, which can accommodate 150 men. Much will depend on future international agreements about flying rights over foreign countries, ana on other political factors which are not yet decided.”