SOON NOW?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 9

SOON NOW?

TASMAN SERVICE.

travel by Am.

AGREEMENT IN AUSTRALIA.

ANOTHER HOPEFUL PROPHECY

Agreement for a modified flying boat service between Australia and New Zealand has been reached, according to a Press Association cablegram received to-day from Sydney. The authority for this statement is - the "Daily Tele graphs" Melbourne correspondent. it is added that official details will be announced later in the week.

A regular service once weekly each \yay will operate at the outset, states the cable, and later this will be increased to two flights. Thus, protracted negotiations, extending over a number of years, appear to be reaching completion. Earlier in the week it was reported from Australia that the New Zealand Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, had been carrying discussions further, and that he had stated that even a weekly service between Sydney and New Zealand would be gratifying to the people of this country. Prolonged Delays. Originally a more ambitious service was envisaged. Two years ago it was reported from Sydney that the Federal Cabinet's discussion on the protracted negotiations for the establishment of the Tasman mail service revealed that the remaining difficulties were rapidly

being eliminated. At that time, the opening date of the service, was still uncertain. It was also said that the only outstanding point of difficultv was the desire of the New Zealand Government that the service be operated directly by the Governments concerned. The difficulties inherent in direct Government operation, it was expected, would reconcile-New'Zealand, to the view Of Australia and Britiiriy vho preferred to leave operation to a private company. In February, 1938, Mr. J. Stubbs, superintending engineer of Australian National Airways, said that flying boats of the Centaurus type would be crossing the Tasman before the end of the year. This prophecy, like many others on record, failed of fulfilment, and the public grew tired of reading that the trans-Tasman service was about to begin. In May, 1930, the Hon. F. Jones, in his capacity as Postmaster-General, said tliat "everything pointed to New Zealand being ready for the service next month," but the date on which the timetable would start depended upon Australia, which was not as far ahead with its arrangements as New Zealand. The modern base at Mechanic's Bay, Auckland, had been constructed, and the Minister expressed himself as satisfied with what had been done. To cater adequately for the requirements of the service, in radio navigational aids, the radio station at East Tamaki Head was established. Survey Flights. Survey flights have been made across the Tasman, both by the Centaurus and the Aotearoa. In recent months the Aotearoa has made a number of survey flights but, on account of war restrictions, they have been attended with a minimum of publicity. Two trim launches specially built in England for aircraft liaison work arrived in June, last year, and the base at Mechanic's Bay was equipped to operate the service in an efficient manner. Meteorological requirements for the service were being brought to completion in Australia in August last, and an observer aboard the Awatea was making a weather report map twice daily. This map was communicated by radio to both Australia and New Zealand. It was also reported last year that training would be given to three complete crews in the Aotearoa.

Fifty-one travellers would be able to fly between New Zealand and Australia each week, as soon as the service began, it was reported last June, when officials anticipated that it would be inaugurated in September. It was said by Mr. Fairbairn, Australian Minister of Civil Aviation, that three of the Empire flying-boat class would cross the Tamilian each week. However, only the Aotearoa has been seen in New Zealand since the Centaurus made the initial flight from England. Since last June, although preparations have gone ahead steadily in the training of personnel, in making survey flights, and by way of radio and meteorological work, pronouncements concerning the service have tended to become vague and reserved. The Hon. Peter Fraser discussed the proposals for inauguration of a trans-Tasman service when he was in London, and the discussions were continued in Australia when he was returning after the war conference of Empire Ministers. The manager of Taxman Airways, Auckland, said to-day that he was not in a position to make a statement.