FLYING BOATS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23001, 2 October 1936, Page 8

FLYING BOATS

SERVICE ACROSS TASMAN AN AGREEMENT REPORTED AIR MAILS TO DOMINION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. During the last few days substantial progress has been made in the discussions between the New Zealand, Australian and British representatives regarding Empire air mails and the proposed operation at an early date of an air service across the Tasman. The discussions have been proceeding in camera, but it is expected that finality on a number of important matters will be reached to-mor-row morning before the Australia delegation, which is headed by the Commonwealth Minister of Defence (Sir Archdale Parkhill) leaves by the Awatea in the afternoon.

It is suggested that plans have been completed at the conference for the establishment of a flying boat service across the Tasman and that the difficulties in connection with the Empire air mail service have to a large extent been removed.

Finality has not been reached, however, and even if the conference reaches agreements on important matters the decisions will have to be considered in detail and ratified by the Governments concerned.

The termination of the conference to-morrow will bring to a close only one part of the aviation discussions. Mr F. G. L. Bertram, Deputy Director of Civil Aviation in the British Ministry, who has been representing the British Government at the discussions, will remain in New Zealand to make investigations and advise the Government on various aspects of commercial air services within the Dominion. It is understood that Mr Bertram will travel extensively in the Dominion in order to obtain a first-hand knowledge of local conditions.