TASMAN AIR SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 10

TASMAN AIR SERVICE

Sir C. Kingsford Smith Meets Cabinet SCHEME SUBMITTED Subsidy of £40,000 From New Zealand Proposed Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, _ the famous airman, met Cabinet -Ministers at Parliament House yesterday, and submitted to the Government of New Zealand bis proposals for the iunjjguratipn of a regular transTasman air service. Although full details of the scheme were not disclosed officially after the conference, it i.s understood I bat Sir Charles suggested that a bi-weekly service should be established at a total subsidy cost of £BO,OOO a year to the Australian and New Zealand Governments on a fifty-fifty basis. That is to say the New Zealand Government would pay £40,000, it having been contended flint there was little difference between the amounts of mail at present transported across the Tasman. The service proposed, however, would be confined at first to the air transport of first-class mail, the postal charges to be determined by the Government. As regards the quantity of mail likely to be carried in the initial stages of the service, it was explained that the proposal was to carry four tons of mail a week. It is said that an alternative service somewhat modified would involve the payment of a subsidy of £30,000 a vear by' the New Zealand Government. As far as can bo ascertained Sir Charles Kingsford Smith also suggested that the company he represented, if its proposals were accepted, should be given protection for five years. Questioned often the conference the Acting-Prime Minister. Hon. Sir Alfred Ransom, informed a representative of “Tlie Dominion” that Cabinet, after hearing Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s full proposals in detail, assured him that the scheme would be given consideration without undue delay It would be necessary, however, to communicate with both the Australian and British Governments, as all were concerned 'in tlie future development of Imperial air services. When that hail been done. Cabinet’s decision would be forwarded to Sir Charles before his arrival in England.