SEVERE CHECK.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13172, 3 February 1936, Page 6

SEVERE CHECK.

REJECTION OF AIR MAIL PLAN. 1.0. N l)OX ASTONISHED. United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—r Copy right. LON I )ON J a nun rv 3 t. Government quarters arc astonished at the Federal Cabinet's flat rejection of the main principles of. the Imperial air-mail proposals-, and see in Australia’s action a severe check to the scheme, by which it had been hoped in 1937 to produce flat-rate air mails throughout the Empire. It has been, realised that the opposition. to unified control of the London-S/ydney service, and also to te use of flying-boats in Australia in recent months, but an uncompromising rejection was not expected. It is pointed out that one consequence of the Australian decision may he that in 1937. an air-mail letter will bo able to he posted to anywhere in the Empire .for l£d for half an ounce, except in Australia, and New Zealand, To whiioh the charge will perhaps still be in the neighbourhood of. Is 3d. Air-mail costs to Australia art* already more than double those to other parts of the Empire, and the British Government is so anxious to see a unified Empire scheme that fresh proposals may be made to Australia. Another disappointing feature to Britain is that the decision holds up the direct trans-Taxman flying-boat link to which it is ultimately Hoped to connect the trans-Pacific service Tt is understood that the remainder of the 1937 scheme will proceed according to schedule, though it is uncertain whether ail the flyingboats that have been ordered will now be 1 1 eces«sary. NEW AGREEMENT. OVERTURES TO AUSTRALIA. LONDON. January 31. Tile “ News-Chronicle s’’ aviation writer understands that immediate representations are being made to the Australian Government in an endeavour to reach an agreement which will not break the Anglo- Australian air transport plan in halves.