HITCH IN PLANS?

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 229, 27 September 1937, Page 7

HITCH IN PLANS?

PACIFIC AIR SERVICE.

Reported Difficulty Owing to

U.S. Subsidy.

NOT INCLUDED IN BUDGET. United Press Association.—C»p3Tight. WASHINGTON, September 26. The Associated Press sa3's it learns that there is a possible hiteh in the opening of the Pan-American service to New Zealand owing to difficulties about the subsidv.

The air mail section of the Post Office Department has informed Pan-American Airways that it will be impossible to grant a subsidy in 1937 because it has not been provided for in the Budget, and a specific appropriation by Congress is required.

The Department added that a subsidy is being considered for the next Budget for the year opening on July 1, 1938.

When Mr. Harold Gatty, representative of Pan-American Airways in New Zealand and Australia, was informed about the suggested hitch, he said he had received no instructions from his company about it, and arrangements for opening the service as planned this year were being continued. No alterations had been made to tne company's plans at the New Zealand end of the route.

LOST SOVIET FLYERS.

WILKINS IS STILL HOPEFUL.

WASHINGTON, September 26,

Sir Hubert Wilkins, speaking at a luncheon at the Soviet Embassy, again emphasised his belief that the lost Russian airmen in the Arctic might be alive. He said: "It is possible that we flew over the castaways and did not see them owing to fog."

M. Oumansky, Charge d'Affaires, said Sir Hubert's work had yielded valuable meteorological information that would be used in a further search, which would be continued in the summer if necessary.

SEARCH ORGANISED.

"PLYING DOCTOR" MISSING.

DARWIN, September 26.

Anxiety is felt for Dr. Clyde Fenton, popularly known as the "flying doctor," who left Newcastle Waters in his aeroplane on Tuesday in answer to a call to a sick person in the interior. His aeroplane was seen passing over a station 30 miles' from his starting point, but nothing has since been seen or heard of him.

Another aeroplane flew over Dr. Fenton's route but returned with nothing to report. Other search parties have been organised.