AIR SERVICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 November 1921, Page 5

AIR SERVICES.

THE EMPIRE CHAIN. A WONDERFUL VISION. QUESTION OF FINANCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Nov. 25. Mr. A. H. Ashbolt, Agent-General for Tasmania, lecturing on the Imperial Air Service before the Royal Society of Arts, under the presidency of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, said, that an inter-imperial service was practicable with a subsidy of half a million annually, to be contributed jointly by the British and Dominions’ Governments. Conversations with British Ministers had convinced him that Britain was not only willing to join the Dominions in the subsidy, but would make additional initial contributions for a term of years, provided a genuine attempt was made to continue the service for not less than two years without frittering money away in desultory experiments.' Mr. Ashbolt pointed out that the Imperial Conference Committee in June did not question the necessity or practicability of an Imperial Air Service, but accepted both without qualification. It was merely a question of finance, also whether the scheme should be carried out by the Government or commercial enterprise.

Mr. Ashbolt is of opinion the scheme would be a commercial enterprise, but Government assistance is necessary to carry it over the first two years. He assumed Britain’s co-opera-tion was assured, and was only awaiting similar action by Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. He congratulated Mr. W. M. Hughes on being first. It only remained for others to •follow suit and join forces with Britain. whereupon the money would be found to establish the service, which would be the biggest modern revolution in transport. Canada was omitted temporarily, because her sea route, was the longest and worst within the Empire. He admitted that Zeppelins were comparatively a failure in war, but he attributed it to the absence of motoring masts, then not invented, which precluded their employment excepr in fine weather. Masts now facilitated their employment in all weathers. He pointed out that the z cost of construction of airships was reduced since fthe Imperial Conference Committee reported. Mr. Ashbolt estimated to build twelve airships for £<15,000 each. Seven ships were sufficient for a fortnightly service to Australia, via India, ana to South Africa, via Egypt. He suggests to inaugurate a service by establishing a ground plant suitable for utilising the existing airships for four years. The first step must be to Egypt, which was destined to become the Clapharo Junction o-f the Imperial service. He anticipated the Anglo-Australian journey to take ten days, allowing for mooring, embarking and disembarking passengers nt half a dozen ports en rout 4. r Colonel L. C. Amery (Umier-Seere-tary for the Colonies) wrote cordially supporting Mr. Ashbolt. Lord Montagu, of Baulieu, paid a tribute to Mr. Ashbolt’s services on the Imperial Conference Committee. He referred to the foremost position airships held to-day as a commercial proposition. The Empire could not afford to be left behind regarding aviation. America. Japan. France, Germany, and even Spain, were promoting long and short distarice aviation. Britain held the premier position at the end of the war, and it was now seriously challenged.