PACIFIC AIR LINK

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 9

PACIFIC AIR LINK

Pan-American Airways Preparing

DENIAL OF REPORT

Awaiting Completion Of Oriental Route

By Telegraph—Press Assu.—Copyright.

(Received June 19, 9 pm.) New York, June 18.

Further inquiries into the reported postponement of the starting of the America-New Zealand air line indicate that it is contrary to fact. Colonel Clarence Young, who is in charge of the Pan American Airways’ transpacific service at San Francisco, said that preparations were progressing, and indicated that the South Pacific plans were awaiting the coihpletion of the present Oriental route in August. Reports from Honolulu also indicate that the Pan-American Airways’ supply ship North Haven will shortly begin further preparation of Pan-American bases for the proposed Honolulu-New Zealand route, visiting Kingman’s Reef and other sites in August. There is also a report current that the Suva Government has invited Pan-American .Airways to use its landing facilities. A representative of the Department of Commerce. Mr W. Miller, arrived at Honolulu to-day to organise a new expedition to the South Pacific islands to collect weather data to be made avail able to the Honolulu New Zealand air line. Mr. Miller said that within a month be would board the cutter Itasca for Baker, Howland and Jarvis Islands to establish stations to make upper atr weather observations Personnel would be left on the islands, probably for a year.

A New York cable dated May <5 stated that, regarding published reports in Australia that the extension of the commercial air service from Honolulu to New Zealand had been postponed. Pan-American Airways had 'informed the Australian Associated Press agency that the negotiations with the New Zealand Government were not completed,.and therefore any reference to the inauguration of the service was premature. It was stated that a considerable amount of technical work in surveying the route had been accomplished, and the hope was expressed that the starting of operations would not be unduly delayed.