EMPIRE AIR MAILS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 64, 27 February 1935, Page 9

EMPIRE AIR MAILS

Discussions in Australia POSTAGE RATE QUESTION Service to New Zealand By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright SYDNEY, Feb. 26. j Australian and New Zealand I delegates to the air mail conference are understood to be trying to have the proposed postage rate increased, holding that IJa would result in prohibitive cost to them. It is understood that the possibility of a trans-Tasman air service was considered to-day, the suggestion being for a weekly service. Delegates to the air mail conference to-night attended the airways exhibition, which was officially opened by the Hou. R. A. Purkhill. The exhibition includes photographs of the England-Australia air route and models of many types of aeroplanes; especially those employed in the air mail service. The Hon. Adam Hamilton congratulated the Commonwealth on th, development of aviation, adding that the flight I to New Zealand by Squadron-Leader I Hewett and Mr Kay after competing ! in the air race had demonstrated the feasibility of linking up the Dominion with the great Empire air services. He paid tribute to the pioneering work of Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith and Mr C. T. P. Ulm in this respect. Mr Parkhill states that if the air mail proposals by the British delegation are accepted by the Commonwealth, a 15-years’ agreement provid ing for revision every three years will be sought. The Minister said that the question of the extent to which the agreement would be entered into had not yet been ’ resolved. The “Sun’’ says: It is understood | that the Australian and New Zealand delegates still hold the view that the lid per ounce rate proposed by B.ritaiu would impose a prohibitive cost on the Commonwealth and the Dominion and a move is being made to strike a compromise rate of 2Jd. It is also understood that some delegates may’ suggest that flying boats be employed between Singapore and Darwin and land planes between Darwin and Sydney, as an alternative to the proposal to employ flying boats throughout. No official statement relating to the | conference’s discussions has yet been i issued, but it is believed that the | question of a trans-Tasman air service was considered to-day, the proposal be ing a weekly service between Sydney i s. .. . . I and New Zealand. I I NETWORK OF AIRWAYS i LONDON, Feb. 26. The “Daily Telegraph’s" aviation correspondent says that transport companies are preparing a comprehensive network of airways over Britain beginning in May. The new (services planned will link London. Hull, Aberdeen, Glasgow, the Isle of Man, Belfast, Manchester, Liverpool, Dublin. Carlisle, Kirkwall, Lerwick and Wick.