AIR MAIL TALKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 48, 26 February 1935, Page 7

AIR MAIL TALKS.

EMPIRE SERVICES. Flying Boats Or 'Planes on Australia Section? DISCUSSION IN SYDNEY. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) SYDNEY, February 25. The air mail conference was opened to-day. It was attended by Mr. R. A. Parkhill, Minister of Defence, chairman, Mr. A. J. McLachlan, Post-master-General, and other Commonwealth defence, postal and aviation officials. The New Zealand Postmaster-General, Mr. A. Hamilton, with Mr. G. McNainara, Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department, and tho British delegation, comprising BrigadierGeneral Sir Frederic Williamson, Director of Postal Services, Mr. Francis Bertram, Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation, and Mr. Thomas Guinness, Parliamentary private secretary to the Undersecretary for Air, were present. It is expected the conference will last for three days. In welcoming the British and New Zealand delegates, Mr. Parkhill said there appeared to be grave difficulties in applying the British scheme to Australian conditions. To use flying boats would involve the opening of a new coastwise route from Darwin to Sydney. This the Commonwealth would be loth to adopt, because of the additional expense and because it had already gone a considerable distance in dcvelojiing an aeroplane service between these centres. Other grave difficulties would arise from the adoption of the principle of the carriage of all first-class mail by air without a surcharge. This would necessitate the use of very large aircraft on the overseas service, and would cost the Commonwealth in the vicinity of £2000,000 a year. Sir Frederic Williamson said the scheme was so gigantic, and the points of detail so numerous and important, that it was difficult to discuss it in the ordinary way, hence the delegation had been sent to Australia. "Wo hope to show that it will not be nearly so expensive as Australians appear to believe," he said. "It is a great Imperial scheme, and there has never been anything really like it before." The conference then began its deliberations in private. It is understood no questions involving New Zealand have yet been reached.

The delegates were entertained by the Commonwealth GovernmcHt at a private dinner to-night.