AIR MAIL SERVICES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1933, Page 7

AIR MAIL SERVICES

HIGHER SPEED DESIRED

LONDON TO NEW' ZEALAND

j LONDON, Nov. 14. The case for faster and cheaper air mail services was well argued by the spokesman of a deputation representing the London Chamber of Commerce which interviewed the Air Minister, Lord Irmdonerry, last week. For years past many ‘experts have pleaded for the acceleration'Of mail services, if n.cessary 'by the separation of mail and passenger traffic; this most recent ■ argument lias raised the. subject afresh. Sir Geoffrey Ciarkc, speaking on behalf of the deputation, pointed out that the present cruising speed on the India mail route was about 100 miles an hour, but that modern requirements for mail services demanded much higher speeds. lie stated that the chamber urged the ultimate adoption of a 24-hours schedule for air mail routes—flying by night as well as by day—and the adoption of aircraft and the establishment of ground organisation enabling mails to travel at least 2500 miles in every 24 hours. Repeating figures cited at a similar meeting in 1031, by Sir Robert McLean, chairman of Vickers (Avaition), Limited, he submitted that by this means Calcutta could be reached in 3.} days from London, and Sydney and Wellington in 7 \ and 87} days respectively. Finally, Sir Godfrey pointed to the immense annual profit made by the Post Office—-about £10,000,000 in the last financial year—and urged that the Post Office could easily afford to pay a * sufficient subsidy to an air service to enable it to pay its way. He asked for a flat rate for all Empire air mails, to displace the present irritating system of varying rates according to destjnn* tion, and pointed out that in the past the Post Office ihad always employed the fastest available services for theP i carriage of mails. As means to the desired end, the chamber suggested a full inquiry in the ,'light of present knowledge by an impartial tribunal, which would study such subjects as the fees to be charged, subsidies and the extension of air services. That British aircraft constructors are fully qualified to produce really fast mail planes is proved by the perform- j ante of several civilian craft that have emerged recently from British factories. For example, iff the Boulton-Paul P. 64 mail-carrier, this country possesses a craft in which long range, high econoj mical cruising speed arid ample safety

margin are combined in a way not surpassed by the best comparable craft built elsewhere. The maximum attainable level speed of the machine on the power of two ! Bristol “Pegasus” motors, is 197 miles an hour, and the normal cruising speed about 175 miles an hour, with a load of 10001 b. of mail, a crew of two or three men, and fuel sufficient for nonstop journeys of 1250 miles in still air. And several craft due to take the air within the next few months will attain j cruising speeds of 145 miles and hour | and upwards/ on relatively moderate' expenditure of- power. With the impetus of a real high-speed policy tor air mails there would be many more.