SERVICE OPENED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22314, 26 April 1947, Page 2

SERVICE OPENED

N.Z. TO VANCOUVER PLANE LEAVES WHENUAPAI CEREMONIAL FAREWELL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 29. Inaugurating the new civil air service between New Zealand and Canada, the Skymaster Tatana left Whenuapai for Fiji at 9.15 a.m. yesterday carrying 31 passengers. The aircraft arrived at Whenuapai on Thursday after a flight of 7 hours 36 minutes from Melbourne and she carried a number of Australian Government and company officials as well as commercial passengers. Boy Scouts Guard of Honour Before the passengers boarded the aircraft yesterday morning a ceremonial farewell arranged by British Commonwealth Pacific. Airlines in conjunction with the public relations office at Auckland was held. A guard of honour of Boy Scouts led to the official dais, and a haka was given by a party of Maoris. In a short address before officially declaring the new service open, .the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr. F. .Tones, said that in addition to strengthening the lies of friendship between the three countries, he hoped the service would result in an interchange of visits between Canadians and New Zealanders. The Australian Minister for Air, Mr. A. S, Drakeford. said the flight could not but help take its place in the history of New Zealand. Presentation to Director A presentation in commemoration of the flight was made by Mr. Jones to Mr. A. W. Coles, chairman of directors of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, and a carved Maori box to be presented to the Mayor of Vancouver was handed to the Tatana’s captain. Captain P. L. T. Taylor, by the Mayor, of Auckland, Mr. j. A. C. Allum on behalf of the city of Auckland. In handing over the first mail bag to Captain I. N. ITolyman, managing director of Australian National Airways, the Postmaster-General, Mr. F. Hackett, said it was only a few years since the first mails had been carried across the Pacific by the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, and he added that this flight was but another step in aviation history.