TASMAN AIR LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23620, 2 April 1940, Page 6

TASMAN AIR LINK

DELIVERY OF AWAKTJA ARRIVAL THIS AFTERNOON DELAY IN OPENING SERVICE The second flying-boat for the Tasman air service, the Awarua, is expected to alight on the Auckland Harbour this afternoon, at the conclusion of her delivery flight from England. Advice received last night indicated that the machine was scheduled to leave Sydney about six o'clock this morning, New Zealand time, and the flight should occupy between. eight and ten hours, nccordine to conditions. Because the flying-boat is merely completing her delivery . flight, no official or .public reception to her is planned in Auckland. 'I he Awarua will probably attract comparatively little attention, as Aucklanders are now thoroughly accustomed to seeing her sister-ship, the Aotearoa, which is at present in tho hangar at Hobsonville. Women Passengers Commanded by Captain Oscar Garden, the Awarua reached Sydney on March 28. A message- from Sydney yesterday said that among the three women passengers was Miss Anne Harrison, of London, who is flying to New Zealand to marry Petty-Officer Jt. J. Squire, of H.M.S. Achilles. Other women aboard are Mrs. C. Griffiths, wife of the first officer, and Mrs. G. N. Welles, wife of one of the engineers. The crew also comprises Mr. G. W. Cussans, radio operator, who flew out with the Aotearoa on her delivery flight, and later returned to England. While no announcement has been made of a postponement of the inauguration of the service, planned, for to-day with a flight between Auckland and Sydney, it is apparent that a further delay is inevitable. The postponement has not been discussed publicly in New Zealand, but an article in tho Daily Telegraph, Sydney, said last week that the six controlling parties had not reached agreement on how the service was to be financed. Details of Finance The outstanding points, according to the Telegraph, were the amount of capital to be subscribed to the operating company, Tasman Empire Airways, how the operating expenses would be distributed, and the proportion of subsidy to be borne by the British, Australian and New Zealand Governments. Discussions, the paper added, were taking place in London between representatives of Imperial Airways, Qantas Empire Airways, Union Airways, and the British, Australian and New Zea--1 land Governments. Agreement had been 1 reached on all details-except finance.