TASMAN AIR MAIL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23052, 1 June 1938, Page 12

TASMAN AIR MAIL

Endless delays have marked the negotiations for the extension of the full Empire air mail service to New Zealand and, from the announcement by the Prime Minister yesterday, it appears that it will be some months yet before the Dominion's isolation is ended. The scheme for the carriage of all letter jnails by aeroplane between the various parts of the Empire was advanced by the British Government as far back as 1934, but the intervening years have been chiefly notable for shuffling and indecision. Five months ago, the flyingboat Centaurus made a survey flight over the route from Sydney to Auckland, demonstrating the practicability of a commercial service, but, after a brief interval in which the politicians applauded triumphant action, the desultory "exchange of views" was resumed. There has been an impression all along that Australia has been the chief stumbling block, The Federal Government has insisted on higher postage rates than the l£d per half-ounce to be charged by Great Britain and New Zealand and its whole attitude has been one of recrimination and fault-finding. The New Zealand authorities have been distinctly forbearing, especially in view of the British assurance that the air mail scheme would be extended across the Tasman whether or not Australian co-operation was forthcoming. The latest move from Canberra is an attempt to hold up the proposals because the New Zealand Government has seen fit to forward the views of Union Airways concerning representation on the directorate of the proposed operating company for the Tasman link. Judging from Mr. Savage's statement, the Dominion is not insisting on this point and it would be helpful if the position could be immediately clarified. After all, the most important aspect is that the through air mail service should be in operation as soon as possible and that the postage rates should be reckoned in pence where now they are j reckoned in shillings.