IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22985, 14 September 1936, Page 16

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

ATTACK IN THE HOUSE “ POLICY OF BOYCOTT” A new overhaul of the Air Navigation Bill was the business before the House of Commons recently, and (says the Manchester Guardian) though the House was thinly occupied both Government and Opposition speakers were practical and accommodating. The debate took place on the recommittal of the Bill to the whole House in order to add to it certain new clauses drafted by the Government. The first clause provided for the lighting of obstructions, such as high buildings. Another clause empowered the Secretary of State to authorise local authorities to carry on in connection with their aerodromes ancillary businesses which they would not otherwise have power to carry on. There was no serious opposition to this clause, but Labour members expressed doubts as to the propriety of the Secretary of State’s having any say in the matter at all. Much was made of the Ministry’s power to revoke a concession. Finally, Sir P. Sassoon gave an undertaking that he would see whether something could not be done to ensure continuity of tenure to a local authority which was granted powers under this clause. The clause was then carried. REBELLION COMES On the first clause of the Bill on report there sprang up a little rebellion against Imperial Airways. Mr Everard (Conservative) began it by moving a new sub-section to the effect that no subsidy should be paid unless the subsidised persons agreed to cooperate reasonably with owners of other British air transport services and not to use their subsidised position in any way that the Air Minister considered detrimental to the other services. Mr Everard wanted the grant of public money to be accompanied by a merger of the interests to avoid wasteful competition. Mr Garro-Jones (Labour) accused Imperial Airways not only of non-co-operation with smaller unsubsidised companies, but of having pmbarked on a policy of clear boycott in regard to them. Lieutenant-colonel Moore-Brabazon (Conservative) put in strongly. Unless some national spirit could be got into these subsidised companies the sooner they went the better, and the sooner we went the whole hog towards a nationalised Imperial service the better. The Labour Party cheered loudly. Lieutenant-colonel Moore-Brabazon was not to be discouraged. It was high time, he continued, .that the Under-secretary should say clearly to all these undertakings that were taking public money that they had to behave themselves. OIL ON THE WATERS Sir Philip Sassoon rose and poured oil on these stormy waters. He quite understood and sympathised with everybody, but deprecated charges and counter-charges. The Ministry was prepared to consider any representations from any company which had reasonable grounds of complaint and to call upon the company concerned to fulfil the understanding on which the subsidy was based that it should not abuse its position. Mr Everard was duly soothed, and would have withdrawn his amendment, but for this leave of the House had to be given. A Labour member, Mr Chuter Ede, objected, and the amendment had to go to a division, in which it was rejected by 187 to 107. The report stage was concluded. The third reading was also to have been taken, but Captain Guest moved the adjournment of the debate on the ground that it was too important a matter to be rushed through at a late hour. There was a good deal of support for this motion, and Sir John Simon accepted it for the Government.