§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the result of the experimental air mail from this country to Australia; whether any regular air mail is to be instituted; what was the loss, if any, on the experimental service referred to; and on what lines is it reckoned that such an air mail can become self-supporting?
§ Mr. MONTAGUEAs regards the first and third parts of the question, the experimental flights are not yet complete, and it would be premature at present to attempt to assess their financial result. As regards the second and last parts, as the House is already aware, proposals for a regular air mail service, which, of course, entail the payment of a subsidy, are under consideration by the Governments concerned. It can be assumed that a regular service could not be organised on a self-supporting basis for some time to come, since the postal rates entailed would be prohibitive.