TRAFFIC IN THE AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21859, 23 July 1934, Page 7

TRAFFIC IN THE AIR

BOOM IN AUSTRALIA SEVERAL NEW SERVICES [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT] SYDNEY, July 14 The announcement that a private company is to inaugurate an aviation service between Sydney and Melbourne directs attention to growth in Australia of this means of transport. The organisation concerned in the latest move is the New England Airways, which, for some months, has been operating a successful service between Sydney and Brisbane. It is now proposed to link the throe eastern cities, and to do this effectively it is likely that night flying will be resorted to. American aeroplanes arc likely to bo employed, because, it is claimed, they are designed for commercial work calling for regularity. ... , , In aviation, Australia is in what might be termed the transition stage, but by the end of this year it will be among the leading nations of the world in commercial flying. The vital extension of the English air mail is about to bo inaugurated, and by the end of the year the following services should be in operation: —Darwin to Singaporo (2333 miles); Danvin-Charleville-Bris-bano (2028 miles); Charleville-Coota-mtindra (C 29 miles); Katherine-Pertli (2252 miles), connecting at Kathcnne with the Darwin-Cootamundra service; Melbourne-Hobart, via King Island and Launceston (475 miles); and the minor services, CI oneurr.v-Norman ton (215 miles) and Ord-R iver-Wyndhnm (158 miles). The new services will cover practically the whole of Australia. This year tlie Federal Government tenders for all except the Ord-River-Wyml-liam services in Western Australia, and, in addition, decided to give South Australia direct access to the oversea air service by establishing a weekly service from Bourke, in New South Wales, to Adelaide. The contract for the Mel-bourne-Hobart service will ensure a daily service (except Sunday) across Bass Strait. . The Government's estimated liability for the next five years is £113,000. but considerable revenue is expected from mail surcharge fees. It is estimated that the regular air lines in Australia will total 11,000 miles next year, and that approximately 1,500,000 miles will be (lown bv all Government services m 1935. The Brisbano-Sydncy-Melbouriie service will not carry any Government subsidy. During the past 2i years the number of licensed public aerodromes in Australia lias increased from 82 to 132 v