EMPIRE AIR-MAIL SCHEME

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22434, 22 June 1938, Page 9

EMPIRE AIR-MAIL SCHEME

ARRANGEMENTS SAID TO BE COMPLETE TRANS-TASMAN SERVICE EARLY NEXT YEAR SYDNEY, June 21. The Canberra correspondent of the Sydney “Morning Herald’’ states that arrangements are now complete for the inauguration of the full air mail service between Britain and Australia early in August, and for the start of the trans-Tasman service, probably just before Christmas or early in the New Year. With the inauguration of the Aus-tralia-Britain service, the air mail rate from Australia to Britain will be reduced from Is 6d to fid a halfounce. ■

“ CONCENTRATING ON AIR SERVICE”

SUGGESTED CHANGE IN STEAMER SAILINGS PRIME MINISTER’S COMMENT (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 21. Asked to-day if any temporary reorganisation of the steamer connexions between Australia and New Zealand was likely until the transTasman air mail service was operating, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said that they hoped the day was pretty close when an air service would be established. His comment rose from the suggestion that the value of the Empire air mail service as far as Australia might be greatly lost by the present spacing of steamer sailings. “Only yesterday I authorised a cable message being sent to Australia ard the British Government agreeing to certain proposals that are being made,’’ he said. “Representatives of all the Governments will meet in London very soon to settle these things. Certainly if we had to depend on steamer services for any considerable time we would have to make better and more convenient arrangements, but what we are concentrating on at present is the air mail service to New Zealand.”

MR SAVAGE CONFIRMS CANBERRA REPORT

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 21. Confirmation of the Canberra report that the trans-Tasman air mail service will probably begin just before Christmas or early in the New Year was given by the Prime Minister (the Rt Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview this evening. “I would say that it will not be later than that," he said.