CHINA TO START ITS OWN AERIAL SERVICE.

Shannon News, 16 August 1929, Page 4

CHINA TO START ITS OWN AERIAL SERVICE.

BETWEEN CITIES. CONTRACT MADE WITH AN AMERICAN COMPANY. FEKIN. Because funds are lacking to hasten completion of the vast railway and highway system needed in China, the Nationu-1 Government has decided to concentrate its attention for the mo- 1 ment upon an aeroplane transportation system. This is regarded as the explanation of the contract made with an American air transport company to start air lines as soon as possible between the principal cities of China. The action was taken . following a report made to the Ministry of Communications by Dr. J. A. L. Waddcll, American adviser to the Ministry. Dr. Waddell pointed out that air lines can be of greatest use to China at the present time, when the railway and highway systems are so inadequate. Advisable to Begin Immediately.

"After the railways and highways arc completed," he declared, "the pressing need for aerial transportation will cease, for it would become a luxury rather than a necessity: hence it would be in the line of true economy to order the planes immediately and to begin at once the construction of hangars and landing fields.'' This advice has apparently been received with close attention at Nanking, and contracts made which are expeeted to provide air lines between Shanghai, Nanking, Tientsin, Peiping and Hankow before the end of the year. The territory covered is not difficult, being.dotted with wide plains, and thousands of soldiers are available to get the landing fields ready in time.

Dr. Waddell and the other American advisors of the Ministry* of Communications are working on plans for improvement of the present system of railways and 4highways, and for construction of other necessary rail lines and roads. The chief obstacle to this programme Is the. "woefully limited funds," as Dr. Waddell phrases it. China's Great Needs.

The Nanking Government is faced with needs far in excess of its revenues to maintain the status quo, to say nothing of the admirable projects contemplated Jor reconduction of the war-torn country. The matter is put in a nutshell by Dr. Waddell: '/This question of the division or non-division of funds (among a variety of projects under consideration) is &■ rather delicate matter. For there, are several ministrios of the Government that are interested in reconstruction, and now construction projects, and it is quite natural that each ministry will tend to hold tho view that its jobs are the most important of all . , . ; It would bo an absolutely suicidal poliey were the Cabinet to compromise any dispute over - the disposition of available funds by dividing the money among the disputants.. Nothing at the preseat time could be worse than this for the wolf are of the Eepublic. Not only would it shortly bring construction to a standstill, but it would also discredit the National Government abroad tot such an extent as to postpone for quite a while the procurement by China of loans."