TASMAN AIR LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23491, 31 October 1939, Page 6

TASMAN AIR LINK

FUTURE UNCERTAIN DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON QUESTION TO BE CONSIDERED [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Monday The future of the proposed Tasman air service -will lie discussed by the Minister of Health and Education, the Hon. P. Fra.ser, during his present visit to England. At present there is uncertainty as to-whether or not New Zealand will be able to obtain delivery of the remaining two of the three flying-boats ordered and built for the service, and this is one of the aspects with which Mr. Eraser will deal.

So far only the Aotearoa has been delivered to the Dominion, and in view of the uncertainty Regarding the delivery of the Awarua and the Australia the service has not been begun. Had it not bpen for the war a regular service between Auckland and Sydney would have been in operation some weeks ago. Damage to Awarua A mishap to the Awarua, which was being used temporarily on another section of the Empire route, provided another complication. It was estimated that several weeks would be required before the machine would be ready for service again, and no advice has been received so far as to whether repairs have been completed. It would probably be possible to maintain a. skeleton service with the Aotearoa alone, which lias completed the necessary survey flights and has proved beyond question her suitability for the route. On more than one occasion the machine, under the command of Captain J. W. Burgess, has crossed the Tasman in under cighv. hours, and passengers who made the crossing on the first commercial .flight earlier this month were greatly impressed by the speed, comfort and utter reliability of the flying-boat. Anxious to Start Two Ministers associated with the organisation of the service, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, and the Minister of Defence, the Hon, F. Jones, have stated that New Zealand is anxious to obtain the other two machines and begin the service as planned at the earliest possible date. There arc, however, other considerations, and no definite decision concerning the future of the service is likely until Mr. Fraser has completed his discussions in London.