TASMAN AIR MAIL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1939, Page 8

TASMAN AIR MAIL

RESTRICTED SERVICE

"ALL-UP" SCHEME AFFECTED

Many questions regarding the transTasman air-mail service were put to the Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones) when the votes for the Post and Telegraph Department were under consideration in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.

The Leader of the Opposition (the Hon. A. Hamilton) inquired who was the controlling authority in New Zealand for the tra'ns-Tasman service, and what were the conditions of the contract as between New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom? He noticed that £20,000 appeared on the Estimates for the Vancouver mail service, and asked what was the reason.

The Minister replied , that the "all-up" air-mail scheme had temporarily gone by the board * and the Vancouver service would be utilised, therefore the full subsidy would be available. Arrangements for the company to operate the transTasman service had not been, finalised, but the shares would be held in the proportions New Zealand £39,000, Britain £38,000, Australia £23,000, this being based on the amount of mail matter conveyed to New Zealand. Of the New Zealand capital 20 percent, would be held by the Government and 19 per cent, by Union Airways, while in Australia the Qantas Company would provide some of the capital and in Britain the reorganised Airways Corporation would provide the capital. So far as the postal subsidy was concerned, New Zealand's payments for mails would be £26,000 pe*r annum when the service was inaugurated, and there was also £ 15,000 subsidy towards the Empire air-mail scheme. One of the flying-boats was in New Zealand and the other'two were expected by November. v

The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes (National, Hurunui): Will the scheme be held up?

The Minister: No, the British Government, will continue a restricted service to Australia and we will have, to pay Is 6d per half ounce. The existing rate of IJd per half ounce will be continued by steamer^