MAILS BY AIR

Evening Star, Issue 21965, 27 February 1935, Page 9

MAILS BY AIR

THE SYDNEY CONFERENCE MANY INTRICATE PROBLEMS TO SOLVE Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY. February 26. The New Zealand delegates to the Air Mail Conference to-night attended an airways exhibition, which was officially opened by Mr R. A. Parkhill (Minister of Defence). The exhibition includes photographs of the EnglandAustralia air route and models of many types of aeroplanes, especially those employed in the air mail service. Mr Hamilton congratulated the Commonwealth on its development of aviation, adding that the flight to New Zealand by Hewett and Kay. after ' competing in the air race, demonstrated the feasibility of linking up the dominion with the great Empire air services.- He paid a tribute to the pioneering work of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr C. P. Ulm in this respect. Mr Parkhill stated that, if the airmail proposals of the British delegation were accepted by tho Commonwealth, a fifteen years’ agreement providing for revision every three years would be sought. The Minister said the question of the extent to which the agreement would be entered into had not yet been resolved. The ‘ Sun ’ says it is understood that the Australian and New Zealand delegates still hold the view that the per ounce, rate proposed by Britain would impose a prohibitive cost on the Commonwealth and the dominion, and a move is being made to strike a compromise rate of stood that some delegates may suggest that flying boats be employed between Singapore and Darwin, and land planes between Darwin and (Sydney, as an alternative to the proposal to employ flying boats right through.

■ No official statement relating to the conference’s discussions has yet been issued, but it is believed that the question of a transtasman air service was considered to-day, the proposal being for a weekly service between Sydney and New Zealand.

Mr Hamilton stated to-night that the conference had been engaged in discussing many intricate problems. There were still a few Australian difficulties to be overcome, and until that was achieved it would not be possible to proceed further with the discussion of the position as it applies to New Zealand.

PROPOSED FLYING BOAT SERVICE

FULFILMENT QUESTION. LONDON, February 26. (Received February 27, at 11.15 a.m.) • In connection with the proposal for a flying boat service from Darwin to Sydney, advanced at the Sydney conference, the Australian Press Association was informed that it was a Government scheme with a political background rather than an Imperial Airways project. Flying authorities question whether the scheme has much hope of fulfilment in view of the Australian attitude,' but it is emphasised that it must be regarded not as. an isolated unit, but as part of a comprehensive scheme for the development of marine airways, envisaging flying boats all the way from Calcutta to New Zealand. The scheme would synchronise with Imperial Airways plans for the construction of long-range flying boats far larger than those in use at present, THE OUTGOING MAIL SYDNEY, February 27. (Received February 27, at 10.35 a.m.) The outgoing English air mail, which closed last night, carried about 6,000 articles exclusive of 3,000 from New Zealand.