AIR MAIL SERVICE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 307, 26 November 1937, Page 6

AIR MAIL SERVICE.

It will come as a surprise that there may be a check to the inauguration of a speedier air mail service between Britain and Australia early next year. According to the latest report construction of the bases in Northern Australia cannot be commenced until the end of March because of the wet season, and three months will be required to complete 'them. Unless therefore temporary landing places for the flying boats are prepared the seryice cannot be set in operation until June next. The completion of the air mail service to New Zealand is dependent upon the inauguration of the Britain-Aus-tralia link, and delay in that important section is a further check to the speedier despatch of mails between this Dominion and the. Mother Country. Some weeks ago the good news was sent from London that Imperial Airways had decided to send a flying-boat to New Zealand on a test flight, the most modern craft having been selected to pioneer the ultimate service. No Imperial Airways aeroplane has ever visited this country, and a royal welcome awaits its arrival. The keenest interest was taken in the PanAmerican Airways clipper aeroplane which undertook the test flight from San Francisco to New Zealand, .and for. the first time many people saw the most modern passenger machine of large type, which in the future will be a regular caller to New Zealand once the service between the United States and this country commences. It is hoped that the coming visit of the Imperial Airways flying-boat will the inauguration of the trans-Tas-man link. It was announced several months ago that the three Governments had reached an agreement on the matter, but so far there is nothing definite as to its commencement. The chairman of Imperial Airways hopes that it will be well under way to establishment, if not actually operating before the company s next meeting, but that only emphasises the difficulties tliat yet remain before the service is commenced.