LINKING THE EMPIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 870, 14 January 1930, Page 16

LINKING THE EMPIRE

NEED FOR AIR SERVICES VALUE TO COLONIES Empire have always stood or fallen by the effectiveness of their communications, but never before has there been an Empire • which depended so much on rapid, reliable transport as ours, writes the Master of Sempill in the “Daily Express” (London). Everything which helps to shorten the distance between the various Dominions and Colonies, to bring them more closely together, must be fully developed if the British Commonwealth of Nations is- to remain both healthy and full of vigour. Yet, in spite of this fact, far too little attention has been, and is being, paid to the possibilities of aviation in Imperial development. The grand conception of a league of free peoples linked together into a coherent whole by a vast network of air lines passing over British territory has barely taken shape. It was not until this summer that a tentative step was made in the direction of Imperial aerial development; and this, despite the fact that nations not standing nearly so much in need of rapid transit have been forging ahead in the air. The London-Karachi air service is only a beginning, but it has already established its value. Merchants in India are now clamouring for its extension beyond the present terminus to Bombay, Calcutta and Rangoon. Undoubtedly such etxensions should be inaugurated without further delay, and the profhised route to Australia should be rapidly organised. But this, by itself, is not enough; branch lines should connect with the main route at various points. Cape to Cairo The Cape to Cairo airway has long been discussed; preliminary surveys were made a number of years ago. And this route, which should open up large tracts of valuable British territory at present isolated from Europe, should be brought into being at once. It is a practical proposition, and, had the necessary money and initiative been forthcoming, it would most certainly be in operation today. No part of the Empire stands to gain more by aerial development than Africa—a continent presenting enormous difficulties to road makers and railway builders. It is, too, one of the richest of British lands.

Last year Sir Alan Cobham survej*ed practically the whole oj the country during his historic 23,000 miles flight. He located no fewer than 50 sites for flying-boat bases, and planned connecting services into the interior. Government officials, traders, merchants and industrialists welcomed his scheme every one showed the greatest enthusiasm, yet extremely little has been done. We are responsible for the development of the Empire; the funds we have at our disposal are limited. There is no way in which thy could be more soundly invested so as to enhance future prosperity than in Imperial aerial development. We must face the fact that bonds of sentiment cannot survive the competition of hard commercial truths. Those *who believe in the Empire mfist, of necesity, be believers in the air.