LINKING UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 127, 31 May 1937, Page 9

LINKING UP.

AIR SERVICES.

AMERICA AND N.Z.

SPANNING TASMAN SEA.

"IN THE NEAR FUTURE."

The linking up of New Zealand Australia, the United States and Canada !>y one or more air lines "in the near future - ' is visualised by Mr. W. T. Miller, Superintendent of Airways of the United States Bureau of Commerce, who is. a through passenger by the Mariposa from Sydney to Los Angeles. Mr. Miller arrived in New Zealand a tew weeks ago and made investigations into the possibilities of mail and passenger services between the Dominion ami Lnited States. Later he visited Australia, on the same mission. He is now on his way home to make a report to his department. Mr. Miller is enthusiastic about the prospects of air transportation between what he terms "Australasia and North America." He emphasised that in his view New Zealand was an important link, and explained that when he mentioned North America he included Canada.

The United States and Canada think as one," he said, "and work as one also." Mr. Miller mentioned that he had met members of the New Zealand Government and the Commonwealth Government and discussed with them the possibilities of the future and other questions such as ports of entry. He had travelled by the principal air lines both in Australia and New Zealand. How Much Business.

"One of my main objects was to ascertain as far as possible how much business would be offering for a service across the Pacific," he said. "I came to the conclusion that it is only going to be a very short period of time before Australia, New Zealand and America are linked up with a fast passenger and mail service by air, but whether it will be sponsored from America or the Antipodes is not for me to say. My view is that the Governments of the countries concerned will have to get together and come to some arrangement. Every detail will have to be worked out before any service can be established. "I do not think that there is only room for one line," he said. "Eventually there niay be more than one company operating, and no doubt some sort of a reciprocal agreement will be arrived at between the countries served. Of course there is nothing positive yet. "The whole scheme of air transport across the Pacific and the Tasman will have to be worked up. The public will have to be educated in respect to the service and what it means, and then they can be 'sold on the service itself.' There is no doubt in my mind. that Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada will be closely linked by air, and that will mean that there will be an all round the world route, as Australia is now the terminal for a service from Great Britain, while the Atlantic will soon be spanned by a regular service." Pioneering Company.

Asked if Pan-American Airways would carry the United States mail across t!-ie Pacific to New Zealand, Mr. Miller explained that it was a question of contract. Tenders were called and. contracts awarded as the result. The company mentioned had done an excellent job of work in making a survey flight across the Pacific at entirely its own expense. "It is a pioneering company," he said, "and my personal view is that a PanAmerican Airways service is practicable with a subsidy at first from the United States Government. ' Our law forbids the carriage of mails without contract, which must always be awarded to the successful bidder. On the other hand it is to be remembered that PanAmerican Airways is the only large international operator in the United States. "Yes," continued Mr. Miller, "there is no doubt in my mind that it will not be long before the Tasman is . bridged by air. With a service between Australia and New Zealand the trip should be made possible by 'planes leaving either terminus in the morning and arriving in the afternoon. It will be found in all probability that high altitude flying will have to be maintained to get the best passage above the storm areas. The average flying height will probably 12,000 ft."