CIVIL AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 5, 1 October 1943, Page 5

CIVIL AVIATION

Shipping Companies May Take Part

POLICY FOR EMPIRE (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright.i (Received September 30, 10.5 p.m.) LONDON, September 20. A recent decision by the Cunard Steamship Company to take power to establish air services after the war follows similar decisions by several other shipping companies, and is a further indication of the preparation of Britain to take a full part in post-war civil aviation. Till the Government announces its post-war policy interested bodies such as the shipping companies can do little more than “take the power” to be ready for the post-war developments. This policy will be worked out by Britain in conjunction with the Dominions,.with whom discussions have already been begun. There is quite a possibility that no final decision will be taken before the meeting of the Empire Prime Ministers to which Mr. Churchill referred in the House of Commons last week. Once the Empire policy is agreed upon it is likely that the next step would be discussions with the United States and Russia. In spite of the publicity given to post-war civil aviation ill the United States, the position there is apparently much the same as in the Empire, with an important exception: Tins is that in Britain there are a number of commercial bodies indirectly interested in civil aviation which are aspiring to participate in it after the war and also asking that the British Government should disclose its policy. In the United States interest is displayed by several already wellestablished airway companies, who are likewise pressing the United States Government to declare its intentions. New Zealand’s Interests.

One of the main questions for Britain is to decide on the organization or organizations which could provide the best service There is the existing “chosen instrument,” the British Overseas Airways Corporation, but there are many people who consider that a world-wide service would be too big a proposition for one concern alone to handle. The claim of the steamship companies is that they are well used to problems of transportation. and already have in existence world-wide organizations. It is understood that New Zealand s interests in this most important question of post-war civil aviation are being closely watched, and if the New Zealand Government has not yet announced its policy it is obviously not alone in this lack ot decision. The “Daily Herald” . reports that a conference on civil aviation wil* shortly be held in London and will be attended by representatives of the Dominions.