AIR LINE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 20 June 1936, Page 7

AIR LINE

AMERICA TO NEW ZEALAND 11EPORTED POSTFONEMENT DENIED PROGRESS OF ARRANGEMENTS (Uiiitc'l Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 20th June, 9.0 cun.) NEW YORK, 18th June. Further inquiries into the reported postponement of the Ame-rican-New Zealand air line indicate that it is contrary to fact. Colonel Clarence Young, who is in charge of the Pan-American tvans-Paciiic Service at San Francisco said that preparations were progressing ar.d indicated that the South Pacific plans were awaiting the completion of the present Oriental route in August.

Reports from Honolulu also indicate that Pan-American Airway’s supply ship North Haven will shortly begin a further preparation of Pan-Ameri-can bases for the proposed HonoluluNew Zealand route iti August, visiting Kingsman's Reef and other sites. There is also a report current that the Suva Government has invited PanAmerican Airways to use its landing facilities. ' ’

A representative of the Department of Commerce, Mr W. Miller, arrived at Honolulu to-day to organise a new expedition to the South Pacific islands* and collect weather data which will be made available to the Hono-lulu-New Zealand Air Line. Mr Miller said within a month he would board the Itasca for Baker, Howland and Jarvis Islands and establish stations to make upper air weather observations. The personnel would be left on the Islands, probbaly for a year.

A New York cable dated 6th May stated:— published reports in Australia"'that the extension of a commercial air, service from Honolulu to Hew Zealand had been postponed, Pan-American Airways today informed the Associated Press that negotiations with the New Zealand Government were not completed, therefore any reference to inaugurating', a service was premature. It was said that considerable technical work in surveying the route had been accomplished, and the hope was expressed that the starting of operations would not be unduly delayed.