TASMAN FLIGHTS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 89, 13 March 1935, Page 7

TASMAN FLIGHTS

FREIGHT AND MAIL SERVICE. KINGS FORD SMITH’S PLANS. EXPENSE OF SEAPLANES. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received March 13, 8.5 a.m. PREMANTLE, March 13. Captain P. G. Taylor, who arrived by the Mooltan yesterday', said he was specially interested in the proposed trans-Tasman air service. He explained tliat there was a special type of seaplane being manufactured in America most suitable for the Australia-New Zealand service, but it was too costly. On the other hand, Fokker 36 land ’planes should meet the needs of the service. A Sydney message states that the Sun reports that Sir Charles Eingsford Smith, prior to leaving for New Zealand; planned a trans-Tasman freight and mail service for an experimental period, beginning in about a month’s tune, using the Southern Cross monoplane in two-way flights weekly and landing at New Plymouth. Details were already finalised with his representatives m Sydney. INTERVIEW IN WELLINGTON. KINGSFORD SMITH’S INTENTIONS. SOUTHERN CROSS’S LAST TASMAN PLIGHT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 13. Interviewed on his arrival by the Wanganella, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said there was a possibility that he would be flying the Southern Cross to New Zealand within the next couple of months. He would carry freight if he could get sufficient firms interested to make the flight worth while, and possibly on the return trip carry mail and drop it at Lord Howe Island. He indicated that the Southern Cross would make only one more Tasman flight. “The old bus,” he said, had earned a rest. The flight would be made with a view to the establishment of a regular service. Sir Charles intends to spend about ten days in New Zealand and thinks the proposed flight with freight will be well supported because of the novelty; thereafter he hopes a service will bo maintained. He said that if the Governments of Australia and New Zealand decided to go ahead with the establishment of a regular passenger service across the Tasman it could he started at any time. However, the Australian Government considered the time not opportune at present and he had lost interest in the project for the time being. He still considers Bell Block at New Plymouth the best situated aerodrome for a trans-Tasman service with Sydney.