PROPOSED PACIFIC AIR MAIL SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 227, 25 September 1935, Page 8

PROPOSED PACIFIC AIR MAIL SERVICE.

'FRISCO-AUCKLAND.

Pan-American Airways Plan

Three-day Flight.

TO START NEXT JULY,

(By Ttlcgraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A weekly air service between San Francisco and Auckland, the flights to take three days, is a proposal which was recently placed before the New Zealand Government by Mr. Harold Gatty, representative of Pan-American Airways. Consideration io the proposal will bo given by the various Empire Governments. It is proposed that the journey of fiOOO miles will be covered in 40 flying hours, spread over three days, with stopping places both ways at Honolulu, Kingman Beef and Pago Pago. No financial payment is asTceil from the New Zealand Government. The first flight in the new servicc is planned for next July. Mr. Gatty, technical adviser to Pan-American Airways, sailed for Honolulu last Saturday, but before he left ho appointed an attorney to sign the memorandum of agreement when tho questions raised by the overseas Governments havo been finalised.

The service to be inaugurated is for the carriage of passengers, mails and express parcels between Honolulu and Auckland iu co-ordination with the corporation's scrvicc from San Francisco to China, which will shortly be regular. The proposed San FranciscoAuckland service would involvo the construction of an airport on Kingman Reef, north-west of Fanning Island, another at Pago Pago and a terminal in the Waitemata Harbour. Four "Hops" Contemplated. ? By steamship, the journey from San Francisco to Auckland—over 6000 miles —takes 18 to 21 days, but by the great 'planes of Pan American Airways the journey will be flown in four stages— to Honolulu, 2400 miles; Kingman Reef, 1100 miles; Pago Pago, 1400 miles; and Auckland, 1450 miles. The corporation proposes to maintain all necessary terminal facilities at its own expense. All it asks is the right to bring its aircraft into Auckland for a period of ten years, with a guarantee that it will not bo subjected to any discriminatory taxation. Even protection from competition is not asked for, although it is unlikely that within ten years there would be enough traffic to justify two trans-Pacific services.

Technical officers of the Government, together with the Minister of Finance, Rt. Hon. J. G. Coatcs, have in recent weeks carefully examined the proposals submitted by Mr. Gatty. In the course of the negotiations an explanation of the scheme was sent to London by the Government. A reply was received at the beginning of last week and in view of the contents Mr. Coatcs told Mr. Gatty that signature of the memorandum of agreement between the New Zealand Government and Pan-American Airways would have to be deferred. Negotiations could not be completed before Mr. Gatty sailed and- so he appointed an attorney to sign as soon as possible.

Keen disappointment was expressed by Mr. Gatty that he was compelled to leave New Zealand without completing his mission. He hinted that delay might prejudice the whole project, for if New Zealand could not grant the very modest requirements of his principals they might turn their attention to alternative plans. Mr. Gatty's Career. Mr. Gatty is a Tasmanian. For some years he was with the Union Steamship Company, sailing between New Zealand and Australia, but eight years ago lie went to the United States and has since gained a high place in the aviation world. Ho was co-pilot and navigator ■with the late Mr. Wiley Post in the first round-tho-world flight and has several other outstanding flights to his credit. His greatest success has been in technical research. He is a recognised authority in air navigation. He is technical adviser to Pan-American Airways and also to the Douglas Aircraft Corporation.

Many parts of the world are linked by the extensive system of passenger, mail and express transport carrying the name of Pan-American Airways. Their machines fly over the Caribbean Sea and call at every major city and port of the South American States. They fly to Fairbanks and Nome, Alaska, and' in tho Far East they traverse the full length of the coast of China. At Shang-, Lai they turn inland to Chengtu.

Greater than all their great services, the flight from California across the North Pacific to the Philippine Islands, about 8000 miles, is shortly to be inaugurated. The journey will be undertaken in five ocean stages—from the mainland to Honolulu, 2400 miles; Midway Island, 1200 miles j Wake Island, 1200 miles; Guam, 1500 miles; Manila, IGOO miles. A Sikorsky 42 Clipper ship is already operating over the longest stage to Honolulu in preparation for the official mail and passenger service. Martin flying boats, carrying 24 passengers with sleeping accommodation will be used in the service. Five Ocean Bases. After plans and proposals had been minutely studied for over four years, a 15,000-ton vessel, tho North Haven, left California last April with over 100men, engineers, radio experts, meteorologists and technicians, to lay down on five selected islands of the widest ocean of the world five selected air bases. The bases are to contain hotels, workshops and hangars, weather and radio stations, accommodation for staff, fuel and oil stores and spccial technical equipment. Each of the five bases now has the most modern facilities for the operation of air transport services.

Jho United States PostmasterGeneral, Mr. ,T. A. Farley, recently stated that tlie United States Government had set aside a million dollars for tl™ North Pacific servicc in 1035, and 1,850,000 dollars for 1036. Of the latter, a certain amount was ear-marked for experimental flights from Hawaii to New Zealand.

The United States Government's main interest is the payment of subsidies for the carriage of mails. Apart from such financial support, it leaves to private enterprise the entire responsibility of the organisation and the operation .of ocean air services. Pan-American Airways are now seeking support from the New Zealand Government along similar . lines. Ik