"NO STAMPEDE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 9

"NO STAMPEDE."

AIRWAYS PROPOSAL.

CONSIDERATION OF OFFER. STATEMENT BY MB. COATES. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A clear indication that the Government will not be rushed into making a contract with respect to the proposed trans-Pacific air service until all details have been completely adjusted was given to-day by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Coates, when commenting 011 a statement from Auckland declaring that owing to the slowness of the Government in accepting the offer recently made it ran an imminent risk of losing the opportunity of being included in the Pan-American Airways scheme.

Mr. Coates said the position was approaching finality, but important details had yet to be considered. "You can rest assured," he said, "that the Government will not be stampeded into entering into any contract."

The Minister explained that the whole position had to be viewed from an Empire perspective, and tliat New Zealand was not' the only country involved. "I am at the moment awaiting cablegrams from Canada and Australia, lie said, "and nothing can be finalised until the comments of these countries are received."

The threat to cut New Zealand out of the service on account of the Government's delay in completing an agreement was not viewed seriously hy the Minister, who hinted that that line of argument was being used to force the Government to make a rapid decision.

The Auckland statement referred to is published on page 12.