NO "FAR COUNTRY."

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16725, 7 January 1920, Page 8

NO "FAR COUNTRY."

THE IMPERIAL AIR FLEET. (FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON. Novembsr 20. Major-General Sir F. Sykea, Con-troller-General of Civil Aviation, believes that wo are standing on the threshold of a new epoch, whose spirit could hardly be better symbolised than by tho advance of aviation. Ho says the time will como wHen the furthermost parts of tho world will bo brought within a few days of each other, and there will bo no countries. Aviation is the antithesis of Cnauvinism; much of the mutual antagonism and mistrust between peopjes of diiforcnt countries has been attributable to lack of easy intcr-communication and consequent misunderstanding. Tho cable and wireless telegraphy have assisted in the breaking down of this party wall between tho nations, but aviation will do »uorc, as it will afford swift opportunities for tho intercourse of living personalities, and provide a means of transport that is not impeded by natural barrier. The occasion of his remarks was the presentation of the City of Birmingham's aeroplane by tho_ citizens of Birmingham, to South Africa, which is the second of three that are being presented to that country. . Ihe Imperial Air Fleot_ Committee desires tho principal of the Motherland fo present three aeroplanes to each of tho six Dominions for tho future defence and promotion of the commerce of the Empire, and as a link of Empire union. The scheme is already nearing completion; six of the Dominions have already been presented with two machines, Canada has received its third, and arrangements are in hand for a third to be given to New Zealand. Birmingham has chosen South Africa as tbo recipient of its gift in recognition of tho close ties that exist between the City and tho Union. Lieutenant-Colonel L. S. Amery, Under-Secretary of State for the Colonics, Believed it essential for our future safety that there should be an Imperial Air Fleet. If ever war should como in the future, it would come in tho twinkling of an eye. Tho great air battle of the future might be decided in the first week of tho war, and it was essential under those conditions that everybody should bo ablo to work together from tho 6tart. The Postmaster-General has made arrangements for tho establishment of an air mail service between London and , Paris. The service will extend to Paris and Franco generally, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, etc. Registered and unregistered letters, postcards, packets of printed papers, and commercial papers, and samples will bo accepted for transmission, but not parcels or insured correspondence. A special fco at tho rata of -s <5d per ounce will be charged, in addition to the ordinary foreign postago and registration fee, where payable. Correspondence for transmission by the air mail service will bo accepted | daily, except Sundays. The corrcspondI er.ee will be convoyed to Paris by aeroj plane, arriving in normal_ conditions in | time for delivery in Paris in business hours the samd day, thus saving about sixteen hours. Correspondence for places beyond Paris will bo forwarded by the next availablo train. Correspondence for places in France will bo delivered by express on arrival at the officcs of destination. Correspondence for countries beyond France will normally bo accelerated by twenty-four hours.

THE PROGRESS ni BANKS COMMERCIAL COLLEGE. r£THERE ar® bow three tin** u many Student* attOEding- Basks College ae in 1914. J For the last University Exams, tbe Coli leg© presented— 117 Candidates for tbo Accountancy and Book-keeping Exams. 83 Candidates for tbe Lair Exams. IC3 Candidates for the Entrance University Exams. Tbe College trained newly 500 ShorthandTypistc" during tho year, clooo on 400 Bookkeepers, and eeeored positions for ail thorn it oould recommend. Earn success by enrolling with BANKS COLLEGE, TVhiteombo and Tombs' BniWiac, Cashel street. 'Phone 1905. P. HABLE, Director. Head Office, Wellington. H4SBO