THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1937 THE CENTAURUS ARRIVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22922, 28 December 1937, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1937 THE CENTAURUS ARRIVES

When she came to rest on the Waitemata yesterday afternoon, the Empire flying-boat Centaurus completed the second historic flight to end at Auckland within two days. The Pan American Clipper, first in the field by some months with a survey flight from Honolulu, beat her British contemporary—the word

rival is not appropriate—by 24 hours on this occasion. Both arrivals had one feature in common. They were

accomplished by commanders and crews in a sober and matter-of-fact manner, any hint of an extraordinary achievement being absent. In a word, both arrived as though they meant business. Auckland could be pardoned for making it, so far as permitted, a gala occasion. It means much to the port and the country that the way is being surveyed for services by two routes with Auckland a vital junction in an airway circling the globe. These circumstances justify the excitement

and the elation with which both visitors have been greeted. The fact that the new arrivals see in it nothing much to be excited about, but merely part of the day's work, need not dash Auckland's spirit in the least. The attitude is, in fact, true encouragement of the hopes which have risen as these graceful craft have appeared out of the blue to circle and to alight. They do not merely suggest, they confirm, the conception of regular services as a sober business proposition. When the Pan American Clipper appeared on its first survey flight, it was cordially welcomed. Its reappearance two days ago was just as welcome. New Zealand values at its full worth the prospect of a mail j and passenger service linking this country with the United States, andj connecting with other lines that | extend to the Atlantic seaboard, and : eventually to London. The many advantages of the agreement with j the American company are fully l appreciated. Yet there was, as there ; should have been, a different feel-; ing in welcoming the Empire flying-! boat yesterday. The Centeurus represents the British service with which New Zealand has long wanted to be linked. Imperial Airways machines ply regularly to India, and to South Africa. They run a service which reaches Australia, the last j part being operated by an Australian company in which Imperial Air-1 ways is concerned. Of the Dominions : to be served by the route, New j Zealand alone remained out in the cold, and until recently seemed likely to do so for an indefinite time. There was nothing in these feelings to reduce the satisfaction with which the Pan American plans were regarded. The company did not come to New Zealand as a rival of Imperial Airways, but to provide a complementary service. Indeed, it regarded bridging the Tasman gap as necessary to its own operations, but did not propose at any time to enter the field itself. So New Zealand can, without any apology to the American company or its representatives now in Auckland, rejoice at the coming of the Centaurus. It can be taken as evidence that British enterprise and initiative are not going to be outdistanced in providing air facilities over Empire lines as there was reason at one time to fear they would be. The flight of the Centaurus and the frankly-expressed opinions of her commander show that to close the Tasman gap offers no serious technical difficulties. This simply reiterates what was plainly said by Sir George Beharrel at the annual meeting of Imperial Airways on November 10. After remarking that existing agreements did not provide for carrying mails from Australia to New Zealand, he added: "All three Governments —napaely New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom—have this question of an extension of the Australian service to New Zealand under consideration. I sincerely hope that before I address you again the extension of the main line to New Zealand will be well on its way toward being established, if it be not actually in operation. I can say this, that as far as we are concerned, if instructions to proceed were now given, regular air services between this country and New Zealand would be in .operation next summer." That makes the position perfectly clear. Imperial Airways could give New Zealand the long-awaited boon of a Tasman service in roughly six months' time. Whatever is done still depends on agreement between, and the initiative of, the three Governments. When the test flight was announced the hope was expressed that it would be a sufficient stimulus to make an end of inaction. Now it has been completed, with brilliant success, there is all the more reason to urge the same point. It is encouraging to note that the discussions with the Australian Ministerial delegate at present in the Dominion included the Tasman service. An announcement that the way had been cleared to effective agreement would crown the satisfac- | tion that the , arrival of the Centaurus brings.