COMMERCE BY AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1920, Page 5

COMMERCE BY AIR.

BRINGING THE EMPIRE TOGETHER. By Telegraph—Press Assn.- -Copyright. London, April 20. Air Commodore Maitland, lecturing at the Royal Society of Arts on the commercial future of airships, said the chief advantage of the airship was safe and rapid long distance "transport and the easy interchanging ability of commercial airships into fighting machines tn enable the immediate provision of a fighting fleet with full personnel in the event of war. i Australia had recently made determined efforts to shorten the time occupied by sea passages to Britain. Apparently the steamship companies were unable to improve the services, because the improvement would entail the construction of such immense steamers as to be out of proportion to the volume of the traffic. Moreover, the Suez Canal would prevent the use of the largest liners, but the largest airships could fly profitably over the Australian and other main sea routes at commercial prices. It was unlikely that air services would as yet successfully compete with fast land transport. Better meteorological knowledge was required to enable winds to be regarded as friends instead of enemies. The route to Australia crossed eastward from the Cape, receiving assistance in the roaring forties. The return journey was made nearer the equator, utilising the easterlies. Existing airships could show a profit of 15 per cent, by participating in the Australian service, carrying a ton of mails at 2s an ounce and passengers at £l9O each. The flight would occupy 9J days.—Alls.N.Z. Cable Afisn.