TASMAN AIR SERVICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18770, 29 July 1935, Page 4

TASMAN AIR SERVICE

LINK IN EMPIRE PLAN OFFICIAL N.Z. VIEW (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. 'Commenting on Sir Charles Kingston! Smith’s proposal for the transTasman carriage of air mails, the aeting-Primc Minister, Sir Alfred Ransom, in an interview, stated that it was not merely the flying of the Tasman which had to be considered—il was the completion of the proposed service from London to Sydney, which would permit New Zealand to receive all first-class Empire mail in New Zealand twice weekly at a cost, of lid per half ounce. At the conference in Sydney in February la.st, the British Government undertook to ascertain the best type of airship for carrying out the service, and (lie New Zealand Government expected to hear at an early dale full particulars of the type of machine required and the estimated annual cost. Sir Alfred pointed out that the cost of the Tasman service would fall on the three Governments concerned, and Britain was prepared to pay half when tln> broad scheme envisaged at the Sydney conference was completed in 1987. Consequently, New Zealand could not, without embarrassing the major proposal, become permanently conmiil ted to a separate scheme at this stage, the cost of which would fall wholly on New Zealand and Australia.

While praising the enterprise and intrepidity of Sir Charles Kingston! Smith in blazing the Tasman trail; Sir Alfred pointed out that this did not afford a proscriptive right-to the- airway between New Zealand and Australia. The development in' air transport, had reached a point when the purely romantic aspect moist be' shed and factors of business, expediency and public benefit permitted to take their proper place. The Taaman service had Iq fte considered as' part- of <s,' compre-

hensive Empire scheme, the purpose of which was to accelerate mails between New Zealand and overseas countries and reduce the postage rate. The Cabinet had undertaken to go into Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s proposals and would tie so at an early date. The Australian Government, he added, had been in communication with the Dominion since May on the matter of establishing a weekly airmail service, and inquiries had been proceeding on the points raised by Australia.