AVIATION CONFERENCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 October 1944, Page 6

AVIATION CONFERENCE

PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONS. MONTREAL, October 23. Canadian officials welcomed delegates from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and Newfoundland to the British Commonwealth air conversations, premilinary to an international conference. The Chairman (Mr. Symington) described the meeting as exploratory and for an informal exchange of views. He added that while he hoped an agreement would be reached on the recommendations to the Governments concerning air communication in the British Commonwealth, whatever was agreed upon must fit into the framework of whatever international air arrangement emerged from the forthcoming international conference at Chicago. The delegates, in camera, proceeded to review the resolutions passed at the London conference last year, to compile the agenda and appoint committees. The final details of the Empire air service across the Pacific ' will be completed at the Montreal conference. The service will be inaugurated in the near future and will be under military control while the war lasts. It will be operated by Australian. New Zealand,. Canadian and probably some British pilots. Fourengined British and American aircraft and American Pacific bases will be used. The service will link with trans-Canada air lines on Canada’s Pacific coast. The opening of the Pacific air link will enable passengers to fly direct from Sydney to London by the Empire service.