First published in The Age on May 28, 1947
Government and Qantas
The intention of the Commonwealth Government to take control of the overseas air service operated by Qantas Empire Airways between Sydney and Karachi was announced today by the Acting Minister for Air (Mr Barnard).
One of the four new Cams Lockheed Constellation arrives at Mascot in October, 1947.Credit:Ernest Charles Bowen/Fairfax Media
Mr Barnard said the Commonwealth already had a 50 percent interest in the company. The other shares were privately owned by Australians.
Talks had taken place between representatives of the Treasury and the Civil Aviation department and the directors of the company on the subject of overseas services, he said.
Mr Barnard said the Commonwealth had bought four Constellation aircraft, which would be delivered toward the end of the year. When they were put into service on the Australia-U.K. run it would not be necessary to terminate at Karachi, the present terminus of the Qantas line. They would fly through to London.
Empire Trend
The chairman and managing director of Qantas Empire Airways Ltd. (Mr Hudson Fysh) said that the decision of the Commonwealth Government to purchase the private shareholding in Q.E.A. was the result of greatly increased expansion and capital requirements for the organisation.
It was in line with Governmental policy and with previous action by all other main Empire units, he said. British Overseas Airways Corporation, British South American Airways, British European Airways, Trans-Canada Airlines, South African Airways, New Zealand National Airways, Tasman Empire Airways, British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines and Trans-Australian Airlines were all owned by their respective Governments or groups of Governments.
The taking over of principal airlines in the various British communities was not confined to Labor Governments, but followed a common trend of political though, and represented the will of the people, which must prevail in democratic countries.
First published in The Age on June 4, 1947
PURCHASE OF QANTAS SHARES
No Pressure
No pressure was applied to Qantas Empire Airways to sell private shareholdings to the Government.
This assurance was given in the House of Representatives today by the Prime Minister (Mr Chifley). Qantas had needed more capital to buy Constellation aircraft, but the Government had sanctioned the spending of the necessary dollars and Qantas had obtained an overdraft to cover its commitments, he said.
First published in The Age on June 18, 1947
PURCHASE OF QANTAS
Government to pay £455,000
The Commonwealth Government has agreed to purchase the 261,500 shares held by the Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. in Qantas Empire Airways Ltd. for £455,000. The purchase is effective from June 30 next.
Qantas Empire Airways Ltd. will declare and pay a dividend before June 30 in respect of the financial year ended March 31 last at the rate of 6 percent, and a further bonus dividend at the rate of one percent.
The purchase of these shares by the Commonwealth Government will carry full right to the use of the name or design “Qantas” in connection with future air services to be operated by the wholly Government owned airline services, and Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd. will not use the name or design “Qantas” in connection with any airline which it may carry on.
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