LINKING LONDON AND NEW ZEALAND BY AIR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 4872, 18 February 1933, Page 4

LINKING LONDON AND NEW ZEALAND BY AIR.

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS PLAN,

“We are sure that New Zealand, although an outpost of the Empire, will eventually, and in the not very distant future, be included in the imperial Air Mail services.” This statement was made by Sir Eric Geddes, chairman of Imperial Airways, Ltd., when interviewed at Cape Town on his arrival by air liner, recently.

In a review of the future activities of his great company, Sir Eric said that with the use of the fleet of four-engined Atalanta monoplanes, now being tried out, it was proposed to reduce the time for the London-to-Cape Town trip from 11 days to nine days, and then to a week. Preparations were also being made for the inauguration of a service in co-operation with the Canadian and United States Governments, across the Atlantic from the North of Ireland.

Referring to the extension of the present service to India through to Australia, 'Sir Eric said: “Things are now" nearing fruition, ' and I iiop'c that by this time next year a weekly service will be in operation. It is our proposal to fly the service with Atalantas to the North Australian coast.

“If we can fly the Atalantas as we think we can, there will be no difficulty in joining up with New Zealand. We are sure that New Zealand, atlhough such an outpost of the Empire, will eventually, and in the not very distant future, be included in the Imperial Air Mail service.” . \ '