THIS MONTH?

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 3

THIS MONTH?

TWO FLYING BOATS. DETAILS BEING DISCUSSED. CLEARING UP DIFFICULTIES. After years of negotiation there appear to be reasonable prospects that the trans-Tasmau air service will be inaugurated this month. Two flyingboats, the Aotearoa and Awarua, sufficient for a regular weekly service, are at present in Auckland with expert personnel awaiting the order to fly. To-day there arrived Mr. \V. Hudson-Fysh (on right in above photograph), managing director of Qantas Empire Airways, and Mr. A. K. Rudder, C.8.E., representing British Overseas Airways Corporation (successor to Imperial Airways), and deputy-chairman of Qantas Empire Airways. Their mission is to confer with Union Airways in respect to the final details of the Tasinan service. The three companies arc components of Tasinan Empire Airways which will be the operating company of the service between Xew Zealand and Australia. "We hope to get an early start and have come across to complete details between the companies concerned." said commencement of the service depends upon the agreement between the three (.iovernments concerned—Britain. Commonwealth and Xew Zealand." Mr. Kudder said that a date had been suggested, but he was unable to make it known until the details were agreed to. Mr. Hudson-Fysh said that he was hopeful that the service would be in operation "in the near future.'' The war had held up the completion of arrangements. "We confidently expect that once we get the service operating all past difficulties will be cleared up and a satisfactory service will result," he said. With the two flying-boats, the trip would be made each way once a week, and if the public gave support the service would be made more frequent later