Dutch Air Liner Service to Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 159, 8 July 1938, Page 7

Dutch Air Liner Service to Australia

SPEED OF THE FUTURE. THE HAGUE, June 24. Australia to London in three days in 1940 or 1941, was the promise made bv Mr Plesman, managing director of the Royal Dutch Air Line (K.L.M.), to-day. Mr Plesman was speaking at the Netherlands Government banquet to lustralian ministers ana Agcnts-Gen-jral, to mark the opening of the Austra-lian-Holland service. He gave the toast )f “Success to Imperial Airways and jantas,” emphasising the good relations of the British Empire to the Dutch ompanies, which would provide Australai with at least five services to Europe weekly. The Public Works Minister, Mr van Buren, who presided, testified to the Dutch Government’s gratitude to the Jommonwealth for facilitating communications between the two countries, whose interests in tho Pacific were so close. Sir Earle Page, in replying, pointed out that the Dutch-Australia frontier in New Guinea was tho only ono iu the world without Customs officers and frontier officials, symbolising a very friendly understanding. Sir Earle commented on the fact that many Dutch were settling in Australia from the East Indies and said the Commonwealth was prepared to consider any immigration agreement between Australia and Holland, enabling inhabitants of Holland itself to settle in Australia.

The Australian visitors were entertained to a magnificent display of fireworks in the presence of thousands of spectators. The set piece depicted the first air mail from Amsterdam to Sydney.