TASMAN AIRWAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23573, 6 February 1940, Page 4

TASMAN AIRWAY

AUSTBALIA IMPATIENT OWN MINISTER CRITICISED DOMINION BELIEVED READY [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, Jan. 31 Aviation authorities in Sydney are' impatient 1 at the delay in beginning the Tasman flying-boat service, and cannot understand why small outstanding details are allowed to hold it up They are mystified by a statement by the Minister of Air, Mr. J. V. Fairbairn, that "a weekly service across the Tasman will be inaugurated if .the suggestion that the service be started immediately, on a temporary war-time basis, with one flying-boat, is adopted by the New Zealand Government." The impression here had been that the New Zealand Government was ready and willing to start the service on any basis,, and the Australian Government unwilling, or at least unready, to start the service. "Verbal Ballyhoo" The Daily Telegraph in an editorial article said: "When the Tasman airroute is functioning we shall probably bo flying through the stratosphere at 1000 miles an hour. Or perhaps we shall have grown wings ourselves. .Let us not pin too much faith in Mr. Fairbairn's most recent utterance on the. subject. "Mr. Fairbairn now tells us that the Commonwealth Government, full of enthusiasm for the project, must wait for the approval of the British and New Zealand Governments. This verbal ballyhoo is becoming tiresome. The New Zealand Government is anxious to see the service started. If the British Government is indifferent, - he must remember Britain is at war and face to face with problems nearer at home. "Obvious Way Out" • "But air communication between Australia and New Zealand not an academic question in this part of the world," adds the Daily Telegraph. "The obvious way out is for the two Dominions to take over Britain's share in. the project and at least start the service. The Aotearoa is available; and the route has been surveyed and equipped with the necessary radio safety devices." Responsible New Zealand Government circles on January 31 denied receiving from Mr. Fairbairn suggestions , for the immediate inauguration, of the Tasman Air service. It was agreed, however, that both the New Zealand Government and the * public were anxious to have the service begun, and proof of this was to be found in the provision several months ago of radio and meteorological facilities, as well as a modern base at Auckland. When the Hon. P. Fraser arrived back from London at the end of December he said that in London he was confronted with the disconcerting information that both the United Kingdom and Australian Governments had decided that the service should be definitely postponed, at least until the. end of the war. "However," he added, "on the position as seen by the New Zealand Government being explained, the United Kingdom Government altered its attitude, and I fully anticipate that the TJnited Kingdom Government and the Australian Government will co-operate in establishing a service, probably on a modified scale."