MAILS BY AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22980, 7 March 1938, Page 8

MAILS BY AIR

INTERNAL SERVICES OVERHAUL IK AUSTRALIA NEW PLANS FOR FUTURE / ,—.— [from oue own correspondent] J SYDNEY. Feb. QG. Plans for' the complete reorganisation of all internal air services within the next sis months have been announced by the Minister of Defence, Sr. Thorby,' They aim at giving Australia passenger and freight facilities comparable with any in the world.^ The proposals are based on the Government's policy in regard to the following points: —(1) Quicker service between States and between Darwin and the south-western portions of the continent for oversea mails. (2) Service as complete as possible for the sparsely populated areas, particularly in > regard to urgent social needs. (3) Minimum dislocation of existing services that have nroved efficient. (4) Care to ob\ i<ite financial embarrassment to companies •#iat may bo affected by essential changes resulting possibly in reduced revenue or complete suspension. Mr. Thorby said that entire reorganisation would bo necessary because of t£e imminent inauguration of the England to Australia air mail service ljy flying-boats. From Darwin, tine present route /Would be diverted to the roast by way of Brisbane. That would Save the Darwin-Cootamundra jine unserviced. How this great area would Benefit best by new internal services be one of the chief concerns of fhe Government. The three main objectives of the review being carried on by the Civil Aviation Board, Mr. Thorby said, would be the investigation of the ne;ds of different areas for passengers and freight transport, tho financial ability of existing air companies to cairy on, with or without subsidies, and tho possibilities of their machines to give efficient service. Proposed changes on the main air line routes would be tho first consideration. The question whether the oversea air mail for Adelaide should be sent Indirect overland route, or by another contract to replace the existing Dar-win-Cootamundra senice, would be analysed, together with similar problems affecting other important areas in the western portion of the Continent. Allied to . tho new main services would be plans for connecting branch services to cover outlying parts of the States now partially served by railways, competition against which wotil:l be avoided. It now took two days to deliver mails by railway to many places within 600 miles of existing air terminals. In these cases, the board would consider whether it would be judicial to subsidise an extension of the service to expedite taails.