A
H
HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1936
TO LONDON IN FIVE
Capt. Lock's Hint Of The Future
NEW FLYING BOATS FOR
IMPERIAL AIRWAYS.
A five days service between Hong Kong and London was forecast by Capt. J. H. Lock, chief pilot of the R.M.A. Dorado when he, addressed members of the Rotary Club at tiffin yesterday.
Speaking on the growth of Imperial Airways Limit ed. Capt. Lock told of its history and intimated that it would not be long before all letter mails between Eng- land and the Empire would be carried by air.
GROWTH OF COMPANY
The following guests were wel- comed:-Messrs.
A Benkiser $1 Shanghal. M. H. Curtis of Hong Kang, N. Gresley of London, W. C. Denison of Hong Kong. K. C. Cheam of Singapore and W. L. Mc- Kenzie, C. Blaker, P. E. Baskett and Mayne Elson of Hong Kong.
The initial difficulties of finance and tenure having been overcome, the next question was the construe tion of sultable machines. The newly formed company took the bold step of scrupping practically entirely Its fleet of converted war- time aircraft and ordering · from In introducing, Mr. Elson, the the manufacturing firms, aircraft Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell said he was specially designed for the comfort- on a tour of the Far East for Tocable carriage of passengers. H. and would be a regular visitor to Hong Kong, Shanghal and Singapore.
The Chairman Prof. L. Forster) introduced a new member. Rotar- lan Gabriel van Wylick, manager of the Credit Foncier d'Extreme Orient and an architect..
The first of these. the Handley Page "Hampstead," a three-engined aircraft, accommodating 12 passen- vers, appeared in late 1924, and in late 1925 the first of the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy" type appear ed, "again with three engines but carrying 20 passengers, a consider- able stride from the single-engined six-passenger aircraft of 1922-1923. This type of aircraft was still in
operation on regular services up to
1933.
NEW TYPES
Prof. Foster announced that he had found it impossible to sttend the next conference of Rotary International in Atian- the City but Rotarian J. W. E Yuen had promised to make the trip and represent Hong Kong. Following on these, in 1929-1970 In introducing Capt. Lock the came the "Hannibal" and "Rerä. Chairman said he was regarded in cles" class, bullt by Haddley Page Hong Kong as a public benefactor } and engined with four Bristol- because he had brought Hong Kong | Jupiter motors, capable of carrying. within 10 days of London.
as well as freight and mail. 40 Capt. Lock produced several passengers. photographs of the latest Imperial Airways Craft which Rotarians studied during his speech.
BEGAN IN 1918.
Capt. Lock said:— "Commercial aviation IR Great Britain, began in July 1918, when an R.A.F. squadron was based at Hendon for carriage of passengers and mall. Out of this was born, 1 early 1919, Air Transport and Travel Ltd. which began Parts/London service in August of that year with converted single en- gined service aircraft, and Handley Page, which began & London/Paris,
a
London Brussels service with con-
verted bombers originally designed and bull by them for long range bombing of the enemy capital
Both services carried passen- gers and mail, and the fares from London to Paris were 25, compared with 24. 15: 0.-to- day.
Heavily subsidised competition by foreign companies had a very seri- ous effect and put a stop to regular -commercial operation from early 1920 10 February 1921. the former Company going into liquidation. end the latter temperarily pending operations.
XS-
Tals type of aircraft is now operating the main European routes, and also the Calro/Karachi and Cairo-Kusumo section of our Empire routes.
People Ettle realise the trials and tribulations of these respon“ sible for the organisation and maintenance of the great "Em- pire Alr Route.
It is one thing to operate a ser- vice within the bounds of one country, or even in Europe, but it Ls very different to operate it as Imperial Airways do, with its sub- diary companies over four con- tinents and 30 countries.
that arise. from
DAYS
Territories Air Services Ltd., the oldest al: operating company, ir Australla, being older even than Imperial Airways.
Thus, in Xmas 1934 the first re- gular Christmas "mail, was carried from the mother country to Aus- tralia, and vice versa, linking up a chain of Empire of 11,000 miles, the longest air route in the world.
SERVICE AUGMENTED
EMPIRE DAY. BAND CONCERT
At The Peninsula
Hotel
By kind permission of Lieut.- Colonel A. C. Marsh and Officers, the Band of the 2nd Battalion, The East Lancashire Regiment will play at the Peninsula Hotel on Bunday, May 24 commencing at â
Having successfully won, through, It was not very long before the mark of progress had demanded | p.m. further services, and during the The programme of, Special num- latter part of 1984 a second service bers for the occasion is given here was inaugurated from London to under. Calcutta..
The demand for air mail, freight and passenger accommodation was so great that In September of last year the second service was extend- ed to Singapore, and I had the pleasure of bringing it through from Karachi, also incidentally connecting up with the Arst expert- mental fight from Penang to Hong Kong.
'Four days ago this second service was extended to Austra- la, and one day it will be ex-. tended to Hong Kong.
!
PROGRAMME
1. March "The Empire"....Tulip 2 Overture-"Tannhauser"
my h
Wagner
3. Valse "Destiny"! Baynes 4. Piccolo Bolo-"The Joy of
Living"
........ Cole
5. Belection-"La Gioconda"
Ponchielli
6. Clarinet Concertino Weber
INTERVAL
51
7. Selection "HMS. Pinafore"
Sullivan
6. Cornet Solo-"Land of Hope
and Glory"
..... Elgar 9. Excerpts from the Opera-
"Aida"
Verdi Student
Simultaneously with the growth of the Far East service, Imperial Airways was stretching its far- reaching tentacles down through Africa, by way of Khartoum, Kisu-10.
mu, and Nairobi, and also outwards to the West Coast.
Belection--"The
Prince1
Romberg 11. Entrcte La Paloma"...Yradler 12. Fantazia-"Festival of
Empire"...MacKenzie-Rogam Regimental Marches: "The Attack"
"Lancashire Lad"
GOD SAVE THE KING. Conductor: Mr. A. B. Yule. These Musical Concerts, of which there have already been two pre-
1.
During this ploneering period in the building of Empire Airways, the European services have been going on very much as they were in 1924, the only difference being bigger, better and, faster aircraft, with refreshment services as good as one could wish for on any boat or train, more frequent services. and a considerably higher per-viously at the Peninsula Hotel. have accorded very much pleasure to centage of regularity, due to the the exceptionally large gatherings vastly improved wireless services," meteorological information and ia-present, and the popularity of this struments which make it not only possible, but comparately simple to ay under conditions that in 1924 would not have been dreamed of.
| CORRESPONDENCE
THE ROYAL EMPIRE LANE,
SOCIETY
"
И
(To the Editor of "The Hong Kong Daily Press"].
~
Sir.-I enclose for the In- formation of your readers the list e speakers at the Fourth Empire Summer School, which is being held this year, under the auspices of the Royal Empire Society, at the University of Bristol from Friday the 24th July til Friday the 31st
July, 1936. 1
I take this opportunity of urging British Residents in Hong Kong to
join the Royal Empire Society thus
tecuring for themselves, for the modest annual sum of £1.11.8, a the heart of London, home in where they can obtain board and lodging at moderate rates and can enjoy the use of an unique Empire Library, which contains over 200,- 000 volumes and 1000 Empire per- jodicals.
are
I should add that women eligible for election as Fellow as well as men,
Thanking you for kindly insert- ing this letter.
#E. POLLOCK
Hon. Corresponding Secretary,
Queen's Building. Hong Kong, 19th May, 1936.
The speakers at the
Summer
School will be Right Hon. S. M. Bruce, P.G., C.H... M.C.. LLD., the Hon, and Rev. H. J. Cody, DD.. LL.D., M.A., Mr. J C. Denison- Pender, Sir Daniel Hall, K.C.B.. FR.S., M.A. DSc., LLD.. Sir Chir- les Innes, KC.SI, CIE. Right Hon. Sir Stanley Jackson, P.C., G. CS1, 0.C.LE, Right Hon. Malcolm MacDonald P.C., M.P.. Mr. C. M. MacInnes, M.A. Lt.-Colonel J. T. C. Moore-Brabazon, MC.., MP... Hon. Harold G. Nicolson. CM.G.. MP., the Viscountess Rhondda, Sir amenity is indicative of a capacity Donald Somervell, K.C., M.P., Mr. Empire Day. Although every effort Stephen Tallents. KCMG, house for the coming ocasion on Henry Wickham Steed, LÄD., Sir C.B., will be made for seating accom-C.BE., Professor R. S. Troup. C. modation for all, early attendance M.G. CIE, D.Sc.. F:RS., MA., and is suggested to avoid disappoint- | Mr. Ch. J. L. M. Welter. ment
WORLD SERVICES Services are operated connecting London/Paris, London/Brussels/- It should be noted that no charge Cologne/Leipzig/Vienna, London/- is being made for admission." Basle, Zurich and London/Mar- selles Rome/Brindisi, not to men
tion the numerous internal services being operated by a subsidiary Company consisting of Imperial Airways and the tour"main British Railways.
Let us now delve a little way into the future and having seen what has been, let us see what will be.
It has been intimated by the Government that Imperial Air- ways, on a further long term agreement, will continue to be that Government's instrument in development of its existing Empire lines. General, together with the Secre- During 1334, the Postmaster
DORADO ON TIME
Brings Passenger And
Much Mail
Arriving promptly on time at 11 a.m. yesterday, the Imperial Air ways Itner Dorado brought a pas senger and a big batch of mail to Hong Kong.
There were 130 kilos of mail and three kilos of freight, the figures which each journey has recorded maintaining the alight increase
since the inaugural flight.
Marcus, who
The passenger was Mr. M.
is on his
way to Shanghai to take over the Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer agency from Mr.
tary of State for Air, made an 'an- air services crossing foreign terrl-on foor to carry all fist-class mail. Of all the difficulties in operating nouncement that negotiations were tory none are greater than those that is, ordinary letter mail by air International without extra" surcharge, and it is politics, for they are based on the upon these facts that a new fleet Dunlap. uncertain and shifting foundations of aircraft have been ordered by 01 national aspirations and pre-Imperial Airwayk · judices.
The Bristol University authorities welcome intending visitors to the Empire Summer School, and will place at their disposal a fine lecture room and common room accom- modation in the main University building; and for their residence three of the University Hails which are occupied by the Undergraduates In the term time. These Halla ure about five minutes' walk from the University. They are in beautiful grounds with gardens and tennis courts and contain, comfortable single bedrooms, refectories and common rooms,
The accommodation is for men and women.
The Bristol Branch of the Royal Empire "Society hopes all visitors will consider themselves members
43
of the Branch and make use of the Branch premises during their stay at Bristol.
The charges for the course are as follows" Entrance. Fee "(payable
on application)
(For Bristol and Bath and Associates, 10s.,6d.).
1 10
Fellows
week (including board, lodging and gratuities)
£4 10 0 Excursions (which are optional) extra.
There are large four-engined By average of nearly 17,000 miles per Accommodation fod the The Nationalism which has deve- loped in
ing boats, capable of a carrying | day. al countries since the capacity of 3.1/2 to five tons, 3- war has miltated against the succording to the amount of fuel car cessful development of Internation-ried, and it is planned to fly with al air transport
these, over most of the Empire section by day and night, thus, by 1937 to reduce the time, taken be-- tween London and Hong Kong to 4-1/2-five days, and London to Australia to seven days.
An air transport, company is not 1 free agent in the selection of the route which. Its services follow
10
over foreign territory, but has to In February 1921, direct narci
conform the wishes of the assistance was given by the Gov-
various foreign Governments con- ernment to operating companies cerned, many of whom have alr and the original subsidy scheme services of their own, and often was amended, and extended sub-regard the operation of a foreign sequently for short term periods,
service over their territory as im-
The following companies were then in being: Handley Page Airparing their national prestige,
transport, Instone Air Lines Ltd. Daimler Hire, and The British Marine Navigation Company.
BIRTH OF COMPANY
W
แ
SERVICE TO BASRA
LUXURY LINERS
These aircraft will be superior in every way to any machine yet seen, and will provide luxurious accc01- modation both by day and night for passengers.
Furthermore, there are Hunder construction flying boats of auit- able capacity and range to cross the Atlantic, and it is anticipated that, during the coming year ex-
In January 1927 the first of these many barriers were surmounted, and the first Empire air link was forged with the service from Cairo to Basra, but it took a further two perimental services will be made, years of political argument and in-linking up Great Britain with ternational differences before it America and the Dominions of was possible to run a regular week-Canada,
These companies the pioneers of civil air transport, worked on short term subsidy schemes with indif- ferent success from 1921 to 1923.
Meantime, the Government had been considering the position of ly service from London to India. For this purpose, we have been divli aviation, and in later, 1923, On reaching Karachi further dif- operating two aircraft in. New Cabinet approved. the Hamblin ficulties were encountered, and al- roundland on behalf of the New Committee on Civil Aviation's re- though negotiations; had been go-foundland Government, and it is port which recommended the crea-ng on since 1927, it was not till anticipated that the data obtained tion of a single organisation, ex- 1933 that the next fence was taken. with regard to meteorological and pressly charged with the develop and in July of that year the "ser-flying conditions will be of great ment of civil aviation over a fixed vice was extended to Calcutta, " number of years..
From there it surged ahead quite rapidly; reaching Rangoon in September, and finally in De- cember 1933 it reached Singa÷ pore.
value on the North Atlantic route.
Let me give you a few figures to show what this growth leas meant.
In 1921-1925 we flew 427 million EP. Miles. In 1934-1935 in Europe alone, we flew 1,665 million B, P. Miles. over four times the amount of flying to that required by the terms of the subsidy.
In 1926 the main aircraft of the fleet averaged 886 hours flying for the year, or 88,800 miles, whilst in 1934 the "Heracles" typë aircraft flew an average of 1,810 hours or 1,810.000 miles.
The first 200 applicants will be lodged in the University Halls, but should the number of applications exceed the number of bedrooms
At a load distance figure, being load carried over distance. In 1923 we operated 291,032 ton miles, available, excellent accommodation whilst in 1935 the ngire stood at will be provided at hotels close by. 3,511,528 ton miles.-approximately For those requiring cheaper, ac- 25 per cent, greater than France. commodation, rooms in houses and 50 per cent. greater than Holland private hotels will be available. and 150 per cent. greater thari Italy.
Its share of cross channel traffic in 1935 was in excess of that of all other companies combined; it car-" ried 15,000,000 letters last year, the fuel consumption averaged 2,500,000 gallons, and it bad a staff of 1,800 people.
[ HONG KONG'S. FUTURE
Early application should be made to the Secretary, who will be glad to answer any further enquiries.
Bristol is within two hours' run by train from London.
SOLDIER FINED.
In shanking Capt. Look, Rotarian Riding On A Public Footpath
E. J. R. Mitchell sald
For riding a bicycle on a public.
"I am sure we all feel very in- debted to Capt. Lock for going on the air instead of in the air. It footpath, opposite the Kowloon must be intensely interesting to all Post Office, Private Evans, of the of us in Hong Kong for it is ob Royal Welch Fusiliers, was fined $4 vlous that our geographical post-by Mr. E. Himsworth at the Kow- tion makes us reulise that the loci Magistracy yesterday. growth of Imperial Airways is Evans pleaded guilty but said he closely bound up with the growth bad committed the offence unin-
tentionally. of Hong Kong.
Pte.
On April 1924, out of the Tour then operating Companies was created "Imperial Airways," whose name has become a bye-word in
"I feel as a result of his talk that Inspector Stimson said that he the furthermost parts of our Bel- During this time, in anticipation
we shall return to our offices and saw the defendant riding his bike tish Empire and which has now of further extension, negotiations
look forward to a prosperous future up to the door of the post office, brought Chtria to within a litle had been on foot with the Com-
when Hong Kong will be the Clap He was apparently a mat orderly. more than a week's trave! of Lon-monwealth of Australia, with the
ham Junction of the air. Now it is and. pald daily visits to the pust result that at the latter part of During 1834 Imperial Airways | the connecting link between the P. office. 1934 an associated company was flew 3,500,000 odd miles, and the and O. and the C. P. steamers and In aning the accused, the Magis- formed in Australia being an figures are not yet available for I am sure that before long it will brate said that he could hardly amalgation of Imperiai Airways 1935, but it is probable they will ex be the junction of the eastern and look on the offence as unintention- with Queensland and Northern cred 6,000,000, representing an western air routes."
dot
From that memorable April 1,
It may be said that civil com- mercial aviation was put on a sound footing.
Į
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