Tasman Air Service Starts

Northern Advocate, 30 April 1940, Page 6

Tasman Air Service Starts

Aotearoa Expected To Be In Sydney By 3 p.m. Today

[Special to “Northern Advocate.’! A rCKLAXT). This Day. TjIFTTNCt from the waitemata before sunrise this MORNING, THE TASMAN EMPIRE AIRWAYS FLYINGBOAT AOTEAROA TODAY INAUGURATED THE REGULAR TRANSTASMAN COMMERCIAL SERVICE, NEW ZEALAND’S FINAL LINK BY AIR WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM. A Fc*w minutes before (i a.m. the Minister tor Aviation (Mr Jones), cut a ribbon across the gangway. At G.f) to the dot. Captain J. W. Burgess, with a final wave of the hand, was away. Tie circled Hie city and then swept westward for Rose Bay. Sydney. The journev is expected to take under nine hours, and the Aotearoa is expected back on Thursday.

Tribute to British Resources. ' In a short speech before the takeoff, the Defence Minister stated that it was .on occasion to which the people of both the Dominion and Australia had for a long time been looking forward. “While it is true that many years have elapsed since the question of o regular service across the Tasman was first discussed between representatives of the Governments concerned, various factors militated against, its earlier establishment,” he declared.

“It is a wonderful tribute to the resources and energy of the British people that, during a period when the utmost efforts are being demanded for the fulfillment of the tremendous requirements of our armed forces we can embark on a scheme involving an extension of 1200 miles to the longest air route in the world. “I wish to express the fervent hope that the captain who will be in charge of the flying-boat to operate the service will always enjoy pleasant takeoffs and happy landings." Brief speeches on behalf of their countries were made by the High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand (Sir Harry Batterbee). the Assistant-Director of Civil Aviation in Australia (Captain E. C. Johnston, of Melbourne). Colonel N. S. Falla, chairman of the Tasman Empire Airways, also spoke. 41 ,'3OO letters. The flyinghoat carried approximately 41.000 letters, weighing 6501 b. For Australia there wore 20,000. for the East, including Egypt. 5000. and for the United Kingdom about 16.000. The mail included 1258 registered articles. Ihe passengers included: Captain E. C. Johnston, of Melbourne, assistant-director of civil aviation in Australia. Mr. A. E. Rudder, representative for Australia and New Zealand of British Overseas Airways Corporation and deputy-chairman of Qantas Empire Airways. Mr. W. Hudson Fysh, managerdirector of Qantas Empire Airways; Mr. C. G. White, of Wellington, a director of the Union Steamship Company. Mr. Rudder. Mr. Fysh and Mr. White are all directors of Tasman Empire Airways.

Other Passengers. Other passengers were Mr Harvey Turner, Mr. T. C. Webster. Mr. H. O. Brown, Miss Joan Hewitt, and Miss P. Dromgool, all of Auckland. The flyingboat is in command of Captain J. W. Burgess, with Mr. W. J. Craig as first officer, and Mr. C. A. MacDonald second officer. The Aotearoa is expected to return to Auckland on Thursday. Halfway There at 10.30 a.m. Halfway on her trip to Sydney, the flying-boat Aotearoa was 600 miles out from Auckland at 10.30 a.m. New Zealand time, according to radio advice received by the control officer at the Auckland base (Flight-Lieutenant G. R. Canavan).' The ship reported that she was flying at 6000 feet at 156 miles an hour. Visibility was 20 miles and the weather partly cloudy with light winds. At noon the ship reported to Sydney, which had taken over control in the meantime, that she was 460 miles from Sydney, at 7000 l'eet, in fine weather and over a calm sea. She also radioed an estimated arrival time at Sydney of 3 p.m., New Zealand time. -TSi

Food.—. The German occupation of Denmark has had the effect of slightly reducing stocks of bacon and butter, said an official of the Ministry of Food. There were, however, still considerable supplies and ho immediate possibility of revision on the scale' pf rationing.