OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22225, 27 September 1935, Page 10

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Some discussion on the Government's reasons for withholding permission from Pan-American Airways to use Auckland as tho terminal port of its proposed transpacific service took place at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. The president, Mr. Gainor Jackson, suggested the reason might be that the United States refused similar facilities to foreign aeroplanes wishing to land on American territories, a suggestion that is supported by reports from Wellington. If such is tho case, as it seems to be, it is strange that the point 'should have been first raised in the case of New Zealand. Tho Canadian Govi?rnment permits American air lines to land within that Dominion, Pan-American Airways itself calling regularly at White Horse on its route to Alaska. More impressive still, Pan-American Airways' flying boats use several British ports in its regular services over the Caribbean Sea, including Nassau, St. Thomas, St. John's, Port of Spain, Kingston and Georgetown, the last-named being the capital of British Guiana, on tho South American Continent. All of theso ports are in Crown Colonies and tho privilege of call granted to Pan-American Airways will hence have been given with the approval of the Colonial Office in Downing Street. That fact suggests that the British Government has no serious objections to American air lines conferring valuable services on British possessions. In view of the established British practice, it is not easy to understand the hesitation shown by the New Zealand Government. Tf fast air communications are readily taken advantage of by British communities so much nearer the world's great centres, the opportunity to use them should be welcomed even more eagerly by New Zealand, the most isolated of all countries. If a stand has to be made, why should New Zealand choose to make it—she who has most to lose and who is least likely to make an impression on the American Government's attihide 1 The public is entitled to a statement of the reasons actuating the Government in not closing on the PanAmerican proposition. At present it appears as if New Zealand were acting Simon Pure for the Empire, a part that is not likely to win much applause or any profit.