AERIAL TRANSPORT IN PEACE TIME

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 80, 30 December 1918, Page 4

AERIAL TRANSPORT IN PEACE TIME

BRITISH COMMITTEE'S EEPOET. London, December 15, The' Aerial Transport Committee anticipates that the aerial postal service will soon be a great success, securing an enormous saying in cabling. The committee suggests from' Iβ. to 25.6d. an ounce as a reasonable charge according to distance. A 5000-word letter could be delivered in Johannesburg in six days at a cost of about the equivalent of one cabled word. The committee foreshadows the organic eation of the air resources of the nation, by which machines could be hired in. London like cabs for fast business journeys to Dublin and Paris. Largo rigged airships would offer important advantages and . economy for) slower commercial journeys. Many other interesting points connected with the future development of aviation are touched on in the report. The committee urges the 'immediate commeuceniCT-. , , of the preliminary work, sucb Sfl injuries regarding routes, landing grounds, and aerodromes, and the immediate establishment of a research 'bureau. Regarding commercial aviation the committee declares that given proper facilities there is nothing impossible in the sending of mails aerially from London to Calcutta ■ in four days, and from London to Johannesburg in sis days. The report urges a preliminary discussion with the Dominions and (ho Allies on the broad questions.of principle and Empire-wide propaganda., in order to convince the whole Empire of the vast importance and possibilities of aerial transport. . It also emphasises the importance of uniform legislation as far as possible throughout the Empire on aeronautical matters, and of avoiding any appearance of dictating to the Dominions, or m any wav infringing their autonomy. Dealing with the oversea traffic, the committee points out that the Dominions and India owing to their great geographical area, and the wide distances, which, in many cases, separate their important centres of population, offer a fruitful field for the development of civil aeronautics. , The committee emphasises that an iniTirovement of inter-Imperial cornmumca-' tion is likely to have an important bearing on the "problem of future inter-Im-perial relations.