TRAVEL BY AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1921, Page 4

TRAVEL BY AIR.

EM PIKE AIRSHIP SERVICES. LONDON, August 18. The official report to the lmicrial Conference dealing with eomiuunicu- ; ions contained the recommendations in lie sub-committee’s report on ails ervires to be submitted to the Parlialents of the Dominions and Britain or consideration. An indication of the omniittco'.s proposals w» - :he full text which was obtained touir|it, gives sonic interesting features Tn tin* Committee’s view, the best opr for successful development lies in irivatc enterprise conducting u service Mr profit like the mercantile in wine. i complete shccinc between England ndiii. Africa, Australia and New Zealand is a matter of a considerable imc. In consequence of this, it is , n*i lcrcd desirable to deal with the .*-- •ablishinent of airship services in stages f one veal' periods. Assuming the inugiiration of experiments jn September. it should be possible in March. '9*>o j,, stail a monthly service to \rypt. and, by the close of fuel. i*mtlts, it should be possible to inideri ake demonstration flights from Egypt; ii the direction of India and South Africa without landing. The cost of this period would lie £540.000.. Tim two-year period includes the erection of a complete lia.se in Kgvpt. The cost for this period would be £1,830,000. lhe further development of one I woven r periods in regarded only as stop-•ling-stones, but such development Jiould convert the experimental (lights towards south Africa into n permanent ind regular service. This should make : ossible an alternative route via South Africa to Australia. The Committee estimated that ten to ■ wolve airships each of 1,000,000 cubic ect capacity would suffice to maintain a fortnightly service from England to Egypt. India. South Africa and Australia. The first of such airships would probably post £300,000. Before the route to Australia could be consolidated it would be necessary to provide equipment and permanent bases ii South Africa and Australia. If is estimated that development over i period of three years would involve a ■ apital expenditure of £4.545,000 maintenance £901,000, and contingencies 01,500,000. To this must be added the '■ost of upkeep and operation of the lirsliips, which would increase from 0100,000 per annum at the end of the two years’ period to £1,095.000 perannuni. The cost of the necessary mooring masts and stations in Egypt, South Africa and Australia, and back via Ceylon, is estimated at £275,000. to enable the conduct of demonstrational flights. Two such flights would cost £33,000. The proposed type of air-ship would carry a maximum load of fifty passengers and thirteen tons of freight