TASMAN AIR LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23274, 17 February 1939, Page 10

TASMAN AIR LINK

NOT BEFORE JUNE

DELAY IN AUSTRALIA AUCKLAND BASE PROGRESS MINISTER'S SATISFACTION £ . "I do not think that we will be able to start the transtasman air service before June, because the Australian Government is not ready," said the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, after inspecting yesterday the progress made with the construction of the terminal for the service in Mechanics' Bay. The Minister was accompanied by Mr. W. B. Darlow, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. D. Holderness, superintendent and engineer, and a representative of the Edwards Construction Company, the - contractors for the work.

"I think the contractor is getting on exceptionally well," Mr. Nash said after being shown over the job. "If the contractor's predictions turn out to be true, then the administrative building and the workshops will be ready before the end of next month, in time for our original idea with regard to the transtasman service.

"I know that' Captain J. W. Burgess is coming out and I hope that he will be in charge," the Minister continued. "I think that he will fly out the first of the three boats. th P Aotearoa "

Mr. Nash said that after long negotiations arrangements for forming the company to service, Tasman Empire Airways, Limited, were nearing completion. The New Zealand Government was now waiting for a reply from England with regard to the articles of association and the memor- ~ andum of association. It was likely that these would leave England by air mail by the end of nest week.