MAKES READY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 5, 7 January 1938, Page 3

MAKES READY.

RETURN JOURNEY.

CENTAURUS PREPARES

FUTURE PLANS UNKNOWN.

CONFLICTING FORECASTS.

As a crew of mechanics moved about to-day on the massive superstructure of Imperial Airways' flying- boat Centaurus. dwarfed by her massive lines while they checked and serviced the four motors, Aueklanders watched the preparations for Monday's departure with a still unanswered question in their minds. When would Imperial Airways' machines again lie seen on the waters of the Waitemata ?

'I lie arrival of the Centaurus last week had brought hope and reassurance that could not be denied. Her commander. Captain J. W. Burgess. was enthusiastic about, the success of the (light from Sydney. In his opinion a commercial Tasman service was definitely practical.

\et beyond the strengthening of confidence which the survey flight has brought, future plans, as far as the public-is concerned, seem as indefinite as ever. Even in London, headquarters of the Empire air services, the position is still one for conjecture. Early Agreement? Yesterday a Press Association cablepram reported caustic newspaper criticism of the delay in the extension of the Empire air mail scheme. To-day, by Press Association, the following report was received from London: — "'The Times'" aeronautical correspondent, predicting rapid progress towards agreement for the Sydney-Auckland and trans-Pacific air services, suggests that the British machines on the latter route will probably use Suva, Phoenix Island and Christmas Island, which would give 'better seaplane advantages' than the American halts at Pago Pago and Kingman Reef.*'

In London, therefore, there seems to be pessimism on the one hand, optimism on the other. It is impossible to ascertain in Auckland whether another survey flight will shortly 1m; under'«3ken by Imperial Airways, or whether the present visit of the Centaurus is a prelude to the early inauguration of a regular service. It is not possible to learn whether plans are well advanced for the establishment of a permanent base in Xew Zcala nd.

Against this, however, is the fact that the Centaurus landed with evirle.it ease and comparatively little preparation at the four main centres of Xew- Zealand. Captain Burgess, in fact, considers that no elaborate airport is necessary in Xew Zealand before a Tasman service can be inaugurated. He points out, however, that he is not in a position to talk of future policy. British Pacific Route. This, again, is in strong contrast with the intensive preparations carried out l»v Pan-American Airways—preparations th-at were beiun weeks before the Clipper made its first survey flight. First came a staff of experienced experts who built yp a flawless organisation in readiness for the flight.

Governments arc blamed by some for the uncertainty about the start of the extended Empire service. At the time of the Imperial Conference in London last year it was hoped that the discussions would-result in an early inauguration of a British service across the Pacific. The route then suggested was Vancouver-Honolulu (subject to America's approval)-Christmas IslandHull Island (Phoenix group)-Fiji-Xew Caledonia- Brisbane-Sydney, indicating that the Tasman service would be a separate one.