Australia Cannot

Use Cocos Airfield

THE Clunies-Ross family, which owns Cocos Islands (Indian Ocean) has refused the Australian government the use of the air strip there.

Cocos is the only suitable landing place between Darwin and Capetown. The Australian Department of Air therefore has to abandon its proposed Australia- South Africa air service.

Reasons given for refusal by the family were that they wanted to keep the island isolated from the outside world and they did not want the peace disturbed by air liners roaring overhead or by air line mechanics and other officials living on Cocos. (They permitted the construction of the airfield as an emergency measure during the war. Cocos or Cocos-Keeling, is a group of about 20 atolls but only two of the islands are of any importance. The Clunies-Ross family has been established there for about 125 years.)