CIVIL AVIATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 255, 25 September 1935, Page 8

CIVIL AVIATION

THE. PACIFIC ROUTE. NEW ZEALAND’S INTEREST. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 25. When lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, Alinister of Finance, passed through the United States on his return from England recently lie discussed witlt the principals of American . Airways their plans to extend their Pacific service to New Zealand, commencing next July. This information was given to the “Standard’s” correspondent by Air Coates who, when informed that a number of details had been published in tiie Dominion, remarked that lie probably knew a good deal more about the matter. Air Coates confirmed tiie statement that full information regarding the proposal had been cabled to the Imperial authorities. “YVe are keenly interested in the proposals being made,” lie continued, “and it is a question which concerns tiie Empire Governments. Therefore, communications are in course of transmission at the moment concerning the 1 acific scheme. „ , , . , „ “Of course, New Zealand is tremendously interested from two angles, both of the Pacific and the Tasman, and in general. YVe are anxious, isolated as we are in the South Pacific, to improve our communications.” . , It has been ascertained that tne proposals were communicated to the British Government not, because the approval of the Imperial authorities is required, but in order to obtain their comment on the proposal that a foreign company intends to include New Zealand in its services. Pan-American Airways does not propose to extend to Australia, but having an obligation under its subsidy arrangement with the American Government to fly to American Samoa, it is considered a commercial proposition to make the comparatively short extension to Auckland. Generally speaking, the whole proposal is regarded by New Zealand as quite attractive, but it is recognised also that landing and trading privileges are asked by the American concern though the American Government would not extend similar terms to an Empire organisation. It can he said definitely that the American proposals have not been considered by New Zealand in the postal sense. In fact, Air Harold Gatty’s consultations have been almost exclusively with Air Coates, Alinister of Customs and Finance, and he did not approach Hon. A. Hamilton, the Postmaster-General. While these discussions with Mr Coates were in progress it was an interesting coincidence that tiie Australian and New Zealand representative of Imperial Airways (Air A. E. Rudder), who is stationed at Sydney, visited AVellington to discuss further plans regarding the coming Imperial air service and its extension to New Zealand, and he attended a conference with Cabinet to submit tiie latest details of the scheme.