AIR SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 8

AIR SERVICES

MINISTER'S DISCUSSIONS IN AUSTRALIA OTHER TOPIGS WERE TYRE AND TOBACCO SHORTAGES (P.A.) AUCKLAND. December 20. Following discussions in Australia concerning civil aviation, aspects ot trade and means of alleviating the New Zealand wheat shortage, the Minister of Supply, Mr Sullivan, returned from Sydney by flying boat to-day. With the Minister were Mr F. it. Picot, Commissioner of Supply, Mr 11* McPherson, AVheat and Flour Controller, Mr J. P. Johnsen, of the Customs Department, and Mr L. C. Webb, controller of stabilisation. They will leave for Wellington by air to-morrow. “ Subject to the concurrence of the United Kingdom, we intend to set up a tripartite commission representing United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to make the necessary investigations and report to the three Governments on the steps necessary for the establishment of an air service between Australia, New Zealand and the United States,” Mr Sulljvan said. “ Nothing can be decided until the commission which will control the service has reported its recommendations to the Governments concerned.”

Asked his view of the prospect of the R.A.F. Transport Command Pacific service being resumed following the requests from Australia and New Zealand, the Minister said there .was a big gap at present and every effort had been made to ensure the temporary resumption of the services. Such a service was, however, very costly. Australia and New Zealand were now awaiting the British decision. “ The position concerning motor tyres remains very difficult.” Mr Sullivan continued. “ There may be some relief, but the position is just as acute in Australia as it is here. The question of further supplies of Aus-tralian-made tyres to New Zealand was discussed and we have made our representations. lam assured that the Australians will do whatever they reasonably can and help us as far as possible.

“ It does not matter where we try to get tyres, whether it be in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, or the United States, the situation remains difficult,” he added. “ The whole position arises from the rubber shortage, which has not been relieved by synthetic manufacture to a degree sufficient to affect us.” Discussing tobacco supplies, Mr Sullivan said there was no shortage of tobacco leaf in New Zealand, but the difficulty was to get it converted into cigarettes. He understood that the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash, had recently granted all tho applications made for private licenses to import cigarettes. The Minister said he had not yet seen anything of the reported proposal by the Invercargill Returned Services’ Association that recently discharged servicemen should be guaranteed for at least six months after discharge a weekly ration of tobacco or cigarettes.