B.0.A.C. CHIEF RESIGNS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 20, 24 January 1946, Page 5

B.0.A.C. CHIEF RESIGNS

LETTER OF EXPLANATION SHOW EXAMPLE OF ECONOMY London, Jan. 17. Hie Director-General of 8.0.A.C., General A. C. Critchley, has tendered' h.s resignation and the Minister of Civil Aviation has accepted it. In a letter to Lord Winster, General Critchley said: “The Government announceme:?- that we are no longer to have a national organisation for the

development of civil aviation, but three or mere State-owned indepenrient undertakings, render.; changes i.i the organisation of 8.0.A.C. imperative if it is to be run economic-

“We now have a Minister,, a wholetime chairman, and a chief executive for the reduced task to be undertaken, and I feel this is top-heavy and extravagant, especially at a time when we must preach arid show an example of ecoromy in all ways to the junior grades of‘ 8.0.A.C.”

General Critchley recalled the progress made by 8.0.A.C. during his three years of association with it. He pointed out that the yearly mileage had increa ed from 13,000,000 to 30,000 000 and the yearly monetary deficit of £2,300.000 had been changed to a surplus of £1,500.000.

He added that the fact that there had been no fatal accidents to passengers during the past 14 months proved thai the quality of the peiv sor.nel of the organisation could not be bettered.

The board of 8.0.A.C. paid tribute to General Critchlcy's outstanding work, saying it was carried out with dynamic energy and foresight. Lord Knollys will continue as full-time chairman and the posi ion.of directorgeneral will be redundant.