TASMAN AIR SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 9

TASMAN AIR SERVICE

AN AMERICAN COMPANY APPREHENSION IN BRITAIN LONDON, October 30. No official comment is made on New Zealand's election manifesto announcing scceptance of a service to America by Pan-American Airways, but it is understood that the British Government intends immediately to seek from Americu reciprocal rights to use American flying boat bases in the Pacific in the event of a British flying boat service to Canada being established. It is recognised that New Zealand is fully entitled to make her own arrangements with Pan-Ameri-can Airways, but some apprehension is felt lest an aerial counterpart to the situation of the Matson steamships should arise. Meanwhile, New Zealand's arrangements for a transtasmau service by Imperial Airways in regarded as encouraging the progress of the 1937 interImperial scheme. United States circles in London are much interested in New Zealand's deal with Pan-American Airways, as they are aware that Britain recently urged New Zealand ,to delay arrangements pending a settlement of certain aspects of the 1937 Imperial scheme. One United States authority points out that Pan-American Airways, unlike Imperial Airways, is not connected with the Government, and is at liberty to make its own contracts abroad, but obviously the development "of a transpacific service must introduce international considerations and therefore become the subject or political discussion between Britain, New Zealand, and the United States. STATEMENT BY MR SHEIL LONDON, October 30. Mr B. Sheil Informed the Sun-Herald that the proposed Australia-New Zealand air service may yet be operated with British flying boats. "We are not committee, to Sikorskys. I am making a complete survey of British flying boat manufactories. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and I spent the whole day t.t the Wolseley factory at Birmingham yesttrday. I will probably return to Australia via America, and will be conferring with the Sikorsky manufacturers. We expect the machines to cost £100,000." STATEMENT BY MR COATES (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 31. When the above cable messages were read to Mr J. G. Coates by telephone, he said:— " I prefer not to make a detailed statement on this matter at a moment's notice. As I explained on Tuesday, arrangements are not yet fully completed. Negotiations are still proceeding, as we have asked for reciprocal rights for British aircraft as part of the arrangement. If acceptable arrangements are not made immediately, the agreement will be subject to review after 12 months. We liope that a reciprocal agreement will be made. At the moment, I cannot say more, as negotiationa are proceeding but my intention is to issue a statement explaining the position."