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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 1312.PDF
1316 FLIGHT. DECEMBER 13, 1934. On to AustraliaT HE Australian Government decided that it would manage the section from Singapore to its own country, thus showing a spirit entirely in contrast with that of the Indian Government. The Com- monwealth authorities have been airminded for many years past, and the Government's liberal but judicious system of air mail subsidies had built up a number of air lines inside Australia which for years set an example to the world for safety, regularity, technical efficiency, and—a most notable point—of usefulness to the districts served. Perhaps defence considerations may have prompted the Commonwealth to insist on controlling the airway to Singapore; at any rate, the authorities wished to secure for the very live Australian lines a share in the business of bringing the Home mails to Australia. The contract was to go to an Australian company. Imperial Airways and Qantas thereupon joined hands, and the new firm of Qantas Empire Airways was registered in Australia. All the local experience of Mr. Hudson Fysh and his colleagues is available for the last section of the great trunk line, while the partici- pation of Imperial Airways ensures uniformity of method and great resources to back the new enterprise. The trunk line runs from Darwin to Brisbane. Other contractors will feed the other Australian capitals. The firm formed by Mr. C. A. Butler will take the mails from Charleville to Cootamundra, where they will be put on the train for Sydney and Melbourne. The MacRobert- son-Miller firm will take other mails from Katherine down the west coast to Perth. Other lines will cross from Melbourne to Tasmania. The Qap CURIOUSLY enough, the European end of the linehas given more trouble than even the PersianGulf section. Imperial Airways have had to vary their Mediterranean port, sometimes using Genoa, sometimes Salonika, and now Brindisi. The ideal port is Marseilles, whence flying boats should cross Italy to Greece and Egypt. Italy is agreeable to this plan, but France is now trying to drive a hard bargain. As yet the freedom of the air is an ideal, not an accom- plished fact. The train journey from Paris to Brindisi is not popular with passengers who wish to fly, and it adds considerably to the journey time of the mails. The negotiations are in the hands of the Foreign Office, and it is much to be hoped that a satisfactory agree- ment will soon be reached. WINGED WORDS : Hengist, her Civil Air Ensign and Air Mail Pennant fluttering, prepares to take off fromGroydon with the first Australian Air Mail. The significance of the occasion is discussed in the leading article on the previous page and above. (Flight Photo.)
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