BRITISH FLYING-BOATS VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 6

BRITISH FLYING-BOATS VISIT.

It is good news that Imperial Airways have decided to send a flying-boat to New Zealand on a "test" flight, and that the most modern craft available has been selected. Although the company's name and fame are known throughput the Empire, none of its 'planes has ever visited New Zealand, nor, with the exception of the Pan-American "Clipper," has any modern passenger 'plane of the largest class been seen here. The warm welcome given the "Clipper," and the concession granted by New Zealand to make possible a regular service between San Francisco and Auckland, were thought by some in England to be an indication that New Zealanders were preferring an American service to • British. No such preference exists, {hew Zealanders gladly welcomed Pan-American Airways' offer because it was an offer, on attractive terms, to provide the Dominion with % an additional and speedy means of communication. They were at the same time disappointed that a British service was not first in the field. The delay in the inauguration of the trans-Tasman service, which is to be an extension of the existing regular service between London and Australia has been due to slow-moving Governments, and although the Governments have reached agreement there are few signs that they are moving any faster. Perhaps the most inlportant result of the visit of the Centaurus will be to hasten the inauguration of the trans-Tasman service. The chairman of Imperial Airways expresses the hope that the service will be "well under way to establishment, if not actually operating," before the company's next annual meeting. This forecast is disappointingly indefinite.