AIR MAILS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 259, 30 September 1936, Page 9

AIR MAILS

CONFERENCE IN SESSION.

j THE TASMAN SERVICE.

t DISCUSSIONS PRIVATE

(By Telegraph.—Special to Standard.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 30. The air mail conference between the (representatives of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand has proceeded steadily in private at Parliament Buildings, and until there are decisions it has been agreed among the delegates that no public statement shall be issued. This aspect of the conference, on which the trans-Tasman air mail service depends, will conclude on Eriday, when Sir Archdale Parkhill, the Commonwealth Minister of Defence, and the Australian Postal Department heads leave by the Awatea for Sydney. Despite the lack of information regarding the conference itself, sufficient lias been made public in the Federal Parliament to suggest that there is no outstanding difficulty oyer the extension of the Croydon-Brisbane air service to cross the Tasman, as Australian opinion, which was formerly against the use of seaplanes, has been modified. Sir Archdale Parkhill, answering questions from Mr Curtin, the Leader of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament, just before his departure for New Zealand, stated that he had been invited to New Zealand to discuss the section of the route between Australia and New Zealand, not the whole scheme. This proposal involved the use ©f large flying boats. Mr Curtin then asked would the flying boats end their journey at Sydney or Darwin, and Sir Archdale replied that under the, proposal they would stop at New Zealand. Sir Archdale contended that the negotiations by Australia had resulted in a saving to the Commonwealth of £IOO,OOO compared with the original British proposals, though finality had not been reached in this respect. The delegates at the present conference aro being entertained at.luncheon by the Government to-day.