AIR MAIL LINKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 150, 26 June 1940, Page 5

AIR MAIL LINKS.

PAN-AMERICA'S HELP.

OTHER ALTERNATIVE ROUTES.

VIA HONGKONG, 27 DAYS.

The first flight of the resumed Pacific air service is to begin from San Francisco on July 12, and the Clipper is due in Auckland on Julv 17.

The American service can fly in almost all conceivable war circumstances, and the sudden decision to operate the service is regarded as a swift move to keep Empire conditions open, as part of President Roosevelt's "help the Allies" policy (reported the Melbourne "Herald" on June 14).

Commonwealth officials were understood to be discussing two other alternates to the Empire route. These are:— '

Retention of the existing service over part of the route and thence by way of South Africa to England. Establishment of a link between Singapore and Hongkong to join up with the transpacific American service to San Francisco. Use of the new America-New Zealand service. Where Mails Stopped. The Director-General of Post and Telegraphs (Mr. McVey), in order that business firms and other senders of letters could assess the whereabouts of recentlyposted air mail and make other arrangements if necessary, gave the following details of air mails recently dispatched by the Australia-England air mail service:—

Mails dispatched from Sydney on June 1 were held up in Egypt.

Mails sent on June 5 were held in India.

Mails sent on June 8 held in Singa pore.

These mails would be forwarded to their destinations from the points of offloading by surface transport at first opportunity, but would inevitably be seriously delayed. „ ' j

Mails for Britain and Western Europe which left Sydney by the dispatch of June 12 were off-loaded at Darwin and returned south for shipment by the first available vessel. The remaining mails went on as it was hoped to be able to arrange for their conveyance to their 1 destinations. I

Mr. McVey said that the HongkongSan Francisco air route would not be available for airmail articles to Europe unless arrangements could be made to maintain air connection between Australia and Hongkong. This matter was being considered by Civil Aviation authorities. Position in America. Because of the vital importance of fast! communications between Britain and Australia and Xew Zealand, both to the Governments and to business interests engaged in war work, and in maintaining production and trade, the opening of the Pan-American service ie one of the most valuable contributions America can make to this part of the Empire. Recent private advice from the United States was that the question of the new service wae entangled with American domestic politics, and that because of a disagreement between President Roosevelt and the Senate over the status of the Civil Aeronautics Authority—the Government body controlling all commercial flying—Pan-American Airways was unlikely to be granted a license for some time.

It was also suggested that because the war had brought Pan-American Airways much heavier Atlantic traffic, forcing an increase in Xew York-Lisbon flights from two to three a weik, the company might not be able to spare a flying boat for the South Pacific line until early next year, when new Clippers are due to be delivered.

The granting of a license shows that, these difficulties have suddenly disappeared.

Unless the Empire route ie resumed, Pan-American Airways and TastianEmpire Airways will arrange connections between the Taeman and American flying boats at Auckland.

Australia may now coneider cutting a 1 day off the mail time to England via America by using one of the Qantas flying boats to fly from Brisbane or Sydney to New Caledonia, a PanAmerican stopping place on the New Zealand route. . '_. *m '

Although the reserve route across the Indian Ocean to Africa might be equipped for operating within a few months, it could not be safely used unless the Italians were ejected from their Eaet African colony. The new American "reserve route" will take 4-1 days to reach California from Auckland. Allowing a day for the Tasman, and five days for the flight across America, across the Atlantic to Lisbon, and then by the new British service from Lisbon to London, the total Australia-England time should be less than a fortnight, even if connection? arcnot perfect.

Beet time available at present, apart from the Empire route, is via Singapore and_ Hongkong to connect with pacifio Clipper service, but connections are so bad that this may take up to 27 days. Mail for Europe is not at present accepted. Qantae may now put one of its flying boats on the Singapore-Hong-kong route to replace the smaller DHB6'e.

Because of heavy American charges, postal fees for this service—as for Ihe projected Pacific service—are much higher than Empire rates, and may run up to 7/ or 8/ for a half ounce letter. But this is regarded as no barrier to official and business correspondence.