AIR MAILS

Evening Star, Issue 21966, 28 February 1935, Page 11

AIR MAILS

THE SYDNEY CONFERENCE FINANCIAL PROBLEMS CONSIDERED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, February 27. The air mail' conference is expected to conclude to-morrow, but it is unlikely that final decisions will be reached until additional information has been obtained from the British Government and the whole of the proposals have been considered by the Federal Cabinet. Discussion on the outstanding points after the conclusion of the conference will be continued by cable'. The British Government’s views on the transTasman air service will also be obtained. In the meantime Mr Adam Hamilton (New Zealand) is making a' preliminary survey of the possibilities of such a service. It is pointed out that New Zealand will be asked to make a substantially larger payment for the carriage of dominion mails from Australia to England by air in the event of the British Government’s proposals (for a faster and more frequent service being adopted, and New Zealand is anxious that an air service between Australia and New Zealand should be established as a definite part of the Imperial scheme now under discussion. : It is understood that the proposal is for the carriage of . only mails, not passengers, across the Tasman. The ‘ Sydney Morning Herald ’ says: “ Much time has been devoted to consideration of the additional cost to the Commonwealth of the proposal that all first class mail matter be carried by air. Estimates have been prepared.by the Commonwealth authorities setting out the cost at about ■ £200,000 a year, and it is understood that the British delegates are now of the opinion that this has not been over-estimated. Even if the scheme is adopted, the Commonwealth would still have, to continue the heavy ■ subsidies now paid to shipping lines to secure carriage by steamer of second class mails. It is understood that the British authorities will agree to amend the part of the scheme involving flying boats from Darwin to Sydney, rather than prejudice acceptance .of the scheme as a whole.” 1