FIVE AIRLINERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 241, 25 July 1935, Page 5

FIVE AIRLINERS

ON ORDER FOR NEW ZEALAND. TRANS-TASMAN SERVICE. UNION AIRAVAYS REPORTED AIM (United Press Association—Copyright). (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. It is believed that the ultimate ambition of Union Airways, recently formed by the Union Steam Ship Company, of New, Zealand, is the establishment of a trans-Tasman air service, linking Australia with New Zealand. Mr N. S. Falla (chairman of the new company), who is at present in England, tolcl a representative of the “Sun-Herald” Service: is suae to establish a Tasman air service. When the time comes probably we will be ready to attempt it. We have no immediate plans, but it is futile to deny that a New ZealandAustralia service is a certainty of the future.” Mr Falla, Squadron-Leader Macgregor (service manager of Union Airways), and Flight-Lieut. G. Bolt (chief pilot to Cook Strait Airways) have lodged New Zealand’s largest commercial order, for five multi-engined airliners with de Havilland, to provide daily services from Palmerston North to Dunedin, and from AVellington to Nelson.

Mr Falla admitted that the formation of an air arm was the natural development of a modern shipping company. DOMINION SUBSIDY OF £40,000. KINGSFQRD SMITH’S PLANS'. WELLINGTON, July 24. jSir Charles Kingsford Smith, the famous aiiman, met Cabinet Ministeis at Parliament House to-day, and submitted to the Government of New Zealand his proposals for the inauguration of ci regular' trans-Tasman service. Although lull details of the scheme were not disclosed officially that Sir Charles suggested that*a bi-weekly service should be established at a total subsidy cost of £BO,OOO a year to the Australian and New Zealand Governments on a 50-50 basis. That is to say, the New Zealand Government would pay £40,000, it having been contended that there was little difference between the amounts of mail at present transported across the Tasman. The service proposed, however, would bo confined at first to air transport of firsi>class mail, the postal charges to be determined by the Government. As to the quantity of mail likely to be carried in the early stages of the service, it was explained that the proposal was to carry four tons of mail a week. It is said that an alternative service, somewhat modified would involve a payment of a subsidy o £30,000 a year by the New Zealand Government. . As far as can be ascertained, ton Charles Kingsfo'rd-Bmitli also suggested that the company he represented, if its proposals were accepted should be given protection for a period ol iye after the conference, the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. Bn Alfred Ransom) said the Cabinet, aftei hearing Sir Charles Kingsford Smith & full proposals in detail, assured him that the scheme would be given consideration without due delay. It would be necessary, however, to communicate with both the Australian and British Governments, as all were concerned m the future development of Imperial ait services. When that had been done, the Cabinet’s decision would he forwarded to Sir Charles before Ins arrival in England.