NEW IMPERIAL LINK

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 10 December 1934, Page 7

NEW IMPERIAL LINK

First Air Mail Service to Australia and New Zealand

DEPARTURE FROM CROYDON

INAUGURATION CEREMONY (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright). LONDON, Dec. 8. The air mail service from England to Australia and New Zealand was commenced to-day, when two hoa\il>laden planes took off from Croydon aerodrome for the Antipodes. Ihe importance of the event was stressed b ail the notable speakers who took part in tho inauguration ceremony. On Monday the first plane from Australia will set out for England.

The Marquess of Londonderry, Secretary of State for Air, said Britain ought not to be content to rest on its present achievements. “AVe must press forward,” be said, “improve and strengthen the service to meet the demand which will be made upon us. AVe have been told by some people that we ought to leal n ■from other -countries how to build aircraft and run air lines. As members of a- widely scattered Empire we have our own distinctive problem. AA r c do not lack ability or the confidence to solve them in our own way. I do not doubt the ultimate success of our endeavours.”

He handed to the Postmaster-Gen-eral. Fir Kingsley AVood, letters from Their Majesties the King and Queen and the Prince of AAmles addressed to the Duke of Gloucester, Sir Isaac Isaacs, Governor-General of Australia, and Lord Bledisloe, Governor-Gen-eral of New Zealand. Other letters wore from British to Australian and New Zealand members of Cabinet. Sir Kingsley AA r ood recalled the opening service to Karachi five and ahalf years ago when 8000 letters were carried. To-day’s service included 100,000 letters and 5001 b of parcels.

“I am confident that the forging ol this vital link in the chain, which the Australian service represents, will result in an increase of traffic beyond anything yet experienced,” he said. Mi- McLaren read a message from Mr S. M. Bruce. Australian Minister, from Geneva, describing the opening of the service as an epoch-making event in the development of Empire relations.

Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, said it was a red letter day in New Zealand’s history. The air mail would assist, implement and reinforce the great Ottawa agreement-.

Sir Eric Geddes, chairman of Imperial Airways, replying to the compliments passed by the British and minion Government representatives, said to those of us who 10 years ago set out to build Imperial air routes the occasion appeared like a dream coming true. “Canada and New Zealand remain to he painted into the picture,” he added. “I hope it will not be long before they are connected by air with Great Britain.”

Lord Stonehaven, Sir 3?hill ip Sassoon (Parliamentary Under-Secretary o Air) and Imperial Airways officials were also present. After the speeches the mail was stowed safely in the aeroplanes. Besides the letters from Tlieir Majesties, tlieir Christmas presents to the Duke of Gloucester were sent direct to the plane from Sandringham. They are being delivered at Auckland. Sir lvifngsley Wood stamped the Royal letters and packages with a special silver stamp. The Duke and Duchess of Kent sent a huge packet for the Duke of Gloucester. It did not fit a special bag. Consequently it was handed to the pilots for tlieir special care.

The big mail plane, the Hengist, took off perfectly within 100 yards. The 8.8. C. made special arrangements for broadcasting the start of the service. The speeches and sounds of the plane leaving the aerodrome were put on the air.

Heavy Consignment on First Stage From Australia

POSSIBLE EXTENSION TO N.Z.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph

Copyright). Received 10.4 b a.in. to-day. SYDNEY, To-day. Nineteen thousand mail items from New South Wales and live thousand from New Zealand left Sydney last night for Cootamundra, whence the first plane from New South Wales will take off this morning. The actual ceremony of the inauguration of the England to Australia air mail service takes place at Brisbane this morning, when the Duke of Gloucester dispatches two planes from the Archerfield aerodrome. ■The Controller of Civil Aviation, Captain Johnston, stated that an extension of the seryice to New Zealand was under consideration. Poshige Amounts to £8960 (British Official Wireless.) Received 1 p.m. to-day. RUGBY, Dec. S. The air mails despatched from Croydon to-day are due to reach Brisbane on December 20. The novelty and the fact that the letters will be delivered beffore Christmas /Day probably (accounts in some measure lor the fact that*, although the postage cost Is 3d per half-ounce, approximately 140.000 letters were carried, representing £BOBO in postage. The mail will proceed on the journey by the following stages: By air to Paris, by rail to Brindisi, by flying boats of the Seipio type to Cairo, by Hannibal aircraft to Karachi, by Atlanta aircraft to Singapore, and by a D.H. Diana machine to Brisbane.