OFFER FOR T.EA.L

Press, Volume C, Issue 29454, 4 March 1961, Page 10

OFFER FOR T.EA.L

No Agreement At Talks

(N.Z. Press Assn. —Copyright) MELBOURNE, March 3.

Five days of talks among New Zealand and Australian Government, civil aviation, and airline representatives ended in Melbourne tonight With no final agreement on the future of the jointly-owned airline, Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd. At ministerial level, however. the talks are still open and a final meeting between the New Zealand Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) and Senator Shane Paltridge. the Commonwealth Minister for Air. will take place in Canberra on Monday.

Most of the rest of the New Zealand delegation left for Sydney tonight and will fly back to New Zealand tomorrow.

Agreement could still be reached on New Zealand's offer to buy out the Australian half share in T.E.A.L., but so far the detailed proposals have met with objections and the counter proposals have not been totally acceptable.

Some of the controversial aspects are to be redrafted during the week-end and will be submitted for ministerial discussion on Monday. Some of the New Zealand delegation have been sick in the last two days. The most serious casualty is the Air Secretary (Mr B. R. Rae), who is under medical treatment and was unable to leave for Sydney tonight. The New Zealand Minister and his private secretary (Mr T. W. Callman) will leave for Canberra tomorrow and will fly back to New Zealand from Sydney on Wednesday.