NEW ZEALAND LEFT OUT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22740, 28 May 1937, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND LEFT OUT

While New Zealanders cannot help but feel pride in the British enterprise that is giving wings to the great 15-year scheme of Empire air mails, as set out in the White Paper published in London, they must also feci profound regret that so far this Dominion has no part or mention in it. They read that provision has been made for nine services' weekly to and from Egypt, five weekly for India, three each for East Africa and Singapore, two each for South Africa and Australia, and they sadly comment on the omission of NewZealand from the schedule. Yet New Zealand in her distant isolation has relatively the most need of and most to gain from a link with the marvellous Imperial chain. That she is still left out of the charmed circle is not due to any oversight by Britain, whose Government was ready to assist the organisation of the transtasman link and subsidise it most generously. Unfortunately difficulties arose concerning control, both Australia and New Zealand asserting claims, and the resulting deadlock has still to bo resolved. In the meanwhile New Zealand must look on while most of the rest of the Empire except Canada—the White Paper speaks of 28 participating countries- enjoys the new swift and cheap mail service. The schedule to Australia is to be reduced next January to 10 days, and subsequently to seven days. New Zealand should be separated from London by no longer than one day added to the Australian schedule. It is for the Government to transform prospect into reality at the earliest possible date.