Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1932, Page 4

The suggestion that aerial warfare should he prevented by the abolition of air forces and th© placing of civil aviation under international control has nroused apprehension in Britain. Tn a letter to the ‘Secretary of State for Air the Federation of British Industries emphasised the value of aviation, though still in its Gaily stages of development, as a. speedy and sure means of communication and the importance of air communications- to the interests of the Fimoiiv as n whole. “From this point of view alone, as well as from that of the future of the aeroplane and engineering industries of this country, the executive committee of the federation expressed the earnest hope that no policy would be agreed to by His Majesty’s Government which would in nnv way impede the free development of air transport upon a nation-l and Imperial basis. Bo + h in to one-ration and equipment no obstacles should he placed in the w-av of British enterprise,” the director, Mr Cr.y T.°oe ‘k, wrote: ‘‘Control by an international body could only have the effect of sterilising the industry, stopping progress, and preventing the free play of British in"ontive gen us and organisation. Gi6-.it Britain would no longer he f ee to develop th© air routes of the Empire in the way 1 ost sv.iited to its needs. Design would bo hampered, and the future leadership in aviation w'miH fall into the hands of any industrial

country or countries which were not bound by the proposed international regulation, but which were at liberty to develop aviation with sole regard to technical and commercial considerations. Aviation is the newest foim of transport. The federation considers that a proposal to internationalise it is as objectionable as any proposal would have been in the past to subject the British Mercantile Marine to similar control.”