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Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1924, Page 2

Ax interesting record of the progress made by British civil aviation for the year ended March .11, 1921, on which date the four (inns in Kngjanil operating subsidised air serviies were combined into the new company known as Imperial Airways, Limited, is contained in a report recently published by the Directorate of Civil Aviation (Air Ministry), and signed bv General Brimckor, Director of Civil Aviation. It is .stated that during the past year the total air transport living amouiiTed to 1,001,000 miles, flown in •bOl2 llights, as compared with 778.000 miles in 1,000 llights in 1922-28. Passengers carried in the course of these

flights, mimhercd 15,013, as against 11,1(50 in the previous year, and goods carried totalled 127 tons as compared with only 210 tons. Other living (mainly “joy riding”) amounted to 120,000

miles llown and 99,22< passengers carried, which also shows a marked increase over the figures of the previous year, when 20,253 passengers were carried, and 109,000 miles were flown. It

is satisfactory to unto that of the total passenger traffic on the cross-Channel

aeroplane routes, British companies received a growing proportion. The British share during the year was 79 pr cent., as compared with 7G per cent, in the previous year. It is pointed out

that this increase was not the result ol a. proportionately greater number of flights, which remained at the previous year’s figure of 58 per cent. Imports and exports by air during tho year reached a value of £88:1.2.').‘5, bringing the total from August 1919, up to £3,410,2-12. It should he noted, however, that the annual increase in goods traffic is less marked when the value of goods is considered than it is when the weight is taken as a basis, since the heavy traffic in newspapers is unrepresented in the former c-.ise, and, further, the general freight being carried to-dnv is not confined to light and valuable merchandise, hut includes

many large consignments of a bulky nature. The report, contains a reference to the decision of the Government as to the building of an airship of five million cubic feet by the Air Ministry, which is also to undertake the necessary preliminary research and experimental work and the organisation of an airship route to India, including the provision of a shed and mooring mast base in India, and an intermediate mooring mast base on the route; and it is pointed out that a contract is being placed with the Airship Guarantee Company (Commander Burney's group! for the construction of a second fire-million cubic feet airship at a fixed price. While the Air Ministry ship will be constructed with a view to Imoprial requirements, tho second ship will b« designed fw commercial

purposes, anti the company are to have the option of purchasing it hack Horn the Air .Ministry at a reduced figure, provided that (1) it is to he operated in connection with an approved British commercial airship service, and (2) it shall he available for use by the State as required. On the important matter of international co-operation in air services the report states that the future of air transport may he expected to incline more and moic to intriiational management of uir lines, and accordingly to the formation of stronger bonds in international relations.

Tin; report of the Parliamentary Committee contains a number of revising conditions of the law of licensing which alb iiot likely to find their way to the statute hook this year. The report is purely advisory, and it is for the Government to accept or reject the proposals in any hill which may bo framed fur the purpose, 'i he chances are that there will not bo any bill at all along the lines proposed in the. life of the present Parliament. The slender majority of the Government is due to two votes in particular, one of which is tha x . of a prohibitionist and the other of an anti-prohibitionist. These two votes, it seems Lo us, control the legislative situation and the wily Prime Minister will probably agree in the end to leave the question alone rather than by any action of his disturb the bala lice of power in his voting strength. It is a matter oT safety first for the Government to leave licensing legislation alone, and that is the reason probably why it will he futile to expect any advanced legislation on the subject at this stage. Of the recommendations by the Committee some important points are raised. Olio is the increased tenure and stability of licenses, which fact will open the way to the. establishment all round of larger and better houses to cope with the necessities for greater accommodation. Another is the proposed redistribution of licenses according to population. "While the first named lias an objective value, the second apparently fails to take in the position of sparsely populated places where population may grow. Jn the case of hotels established at out of the way laces, such licenses would stand in jeopardy oil a population basis, yet they are essential for travellers. It is significant that the report does not touch the ballot paper. The question of coiporate control is not advocated, nor is any change in tile three issues to go to the people, meaning the retention of the State control issue. If the Government, is disposed to avail itself of any of the suggestions from the Committee, it would do so most probably in regard to the suggested increase <4 fees, because that revenue is to go to the Treasury. The local bodies would protest against this poaching on its preserve of ’'revenue, though that appears to be a failing of the present Government where local body income is affected. On the whole, however, it seems unnecessary to consider the report very seriously at this stage, for the reason given at the outset that definite legislation is unlikely. The Committee was merely a sop to keep the subject alive, and now tin' Government will “lake time” to consider tlie report.