SYSTEMS DISCUSSED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 14, 12 October 1943, Page 5

SYSTEMS DISCUSSED

Post-War Civil Aviation (British Official Wireless.) (Received October 11, 7.5 P- m -) 1 RUGBY, October 10. The forthcoming preliminary. Empire discussions in .London on worm civil a\ia tion give rise to unofficial discussion on the merits and practicability of varies systems of organization., ihe Econom ist” admits that international freedom of the air on a national basis, as defined (by President Roosevelt and Mr. Churchill, is probably at present the highest measure of agreement among the air Powers, but it gives cogent reasons in favour of more radical internationa.izatloliitcrnationalization of all airports and trunk lines would tend to prevent, militarism in the development of aviation ■and would render most effective service to the nations.as a whole. At the present stage, however, the supersession ot national by international airanes is likely to follow and not precede the supersession of national by international air forces. Degree of Regionalism. The question is what the unit of organization shall be. The “Economist sees it as a choice (between nationalism and regionalism. Division of the skies into exclusive spheres of influence among the major peoples would :be as diisastrous to peace as similar spheres in shipping or diplomacy, but in practice a degree ot regionalism is unavoidable. Stating that Imperial defence is impossible without American aid. and the security of the western hemisphere impossible without the efforts of Britain, Russia and China, the “Economist” urges that in aviation regionalism be regarded by Britain and tiie United States as “more than half-way from nationalism to internationalism. The method suggested is to work out a chain of regional and! interregional arrangements which will add up to practical internationalism. As for the choice between Governmentoperated air transport, public corporations or private airlines, the Economist” insists that this should not be decided on the basis of prejudice or political doctrine, but that the only criterion is the efficient use of resources and service to the community. Every country, the paper says, will require State aid, and' the best contribution the State can make to (British aviation would be to maintain a sufficient military demand to keep in being an efficient and . enterprising aircraft industry. The important need immediately is quality, not quantity, and British designers have already been set to work to fashion four new transport types.