COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 10, 7 October 1936, Page 10

COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICES

British Delegate’s Visit

“NOTHING BUT GOOD WILL

COME OF IT”

With the objectives of his mission to New Zealand now virtually attained, Mr. F. G. L. Bertram, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation in the British Air Ministry, is to leave Auckland next Tuesday on his return to England. Mr. Bertram is visiting relatives in the Bay of Islands, but his plans provide for his return to Auckland on Monday and bis departure by the Aorangi the following day. In discussing the results of Mr. Bertram’s visit in an interview last evening, the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, expressed the opinion that nothing but good would come of it. Mr. Bertram had taken part in the discussions regarding the future of commercial air services over the Tasman and the Pacific, but the recommendations which developed from those discussions were still confidential. In addition, Mr. Bertram had conferred with the Dominion authorities on all points regarding the expansion of internal air services in New Zealand and his report in that connection would doubtless.be made available to the Government in the near future. Although the Prime Minister himself did not say so, it is believed that the application by Union Airways for an extension of its trunk route licence from Palmerston North to New Plymouth and Auckland is being held up pending the receipt of Mr. Bertram’s report and the settlement by the Government of a detailed policy with regard to civil aviation in the Dominion. Mr. Savage stated that if Mr. Bertram left by the Aorangi next week he would be travelling in company with the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash. Advantage would probably be taken of that fact to continue discussions on various aspects of Empire policy in connection with air mails and commercial aviation.