The Press TUESDAY, JUly 19, 1949. Tasman Air Service Monopoly

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25859, 19 July 1949, Page 4

The Press TUESDAY, JUly 19, 1949. Tasman Air Service Monopoly

Early this month the Minister in I charge of the Air Department (Mr F. Jones), answering the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) . in the House of Representatives, . made it plain that the Government’s I policy is to keep Tasman Empire , Airways the sole operator of air services between New Zealand and . Australia. As reported on Saturi day, Mr Jones has put this policy ■ into effect by refusing an applica- , tion by Australian National Airways to operate a landplane service between Sydney and Christchurch. His decision, which preserves the State monopoly of Tasman air services, also suggests that I there is still a long way to go before the South Island has a direct air link with Australia. The Government has decided that the South Island is to have an international airport, and that Harewood is to be enlarged and improved for the purpose; but the word to start a service from Christchurch is unlikely to be given until the three Governments which jointly own Tasman Empire Airways agree to extend the company’s service to a South Island-Australia link. The private Australian airline, which is willing to operate a service once Harewood is ready, is barred from the Tasman because the Australian and New Zealand Governments are committed by the Canberra Agreement of 1944 to an international or Statecontrolled operator. The State monopoly operator, although it has said that it will “ not be slow ” to apply for a route licence once a terminal is provided, is unlikely to be able to provide a landplane service, except by expensive charter, for a considerable time to come. It is awaiting the delivery of new Solent flying-boats, which will be in service for several years, and a complete change-over to landplanes cannot be expected until the costly and technically formidable develop - ment of a new international airport at Auckland is completed. South Island interests, having battled hard and successfully for an international airport, will therefore have to keep pressing for a service to Australia as soon as Harewood is completed. They will also have to be watchful that the Government, knowing that it can provide a service in its own time because it has a monopoly, does not allow Harewood’s development to -be carried on at a leisurely pace.