TASMAN AIR SERVICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19133, 30 September 1936, Page 6

TASMAN AIR SERVICE

WELLINGTON CONFERENCE STEADY PROGRESS MADE CONCLUSION ON FRIDAY (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The air mail conference between representatives of Britain, Australia and New Zealand has proceeded steadily in private at Parliament Buildings, and'until there are decisions, it lias been agreed among the. delegates-that no public statement will be issued. This aspect of I lie conference, on which the Irans-Tasmnn air mail service depends, will conclude on Friday when Sir Arehdale Parkbill, the Commonwealth Minister of Defence, and the Australian postal heads will leave by tho Awatea for Sydney.

Despite the lack of information regarding the conference itself, sufficient has been made, public in the Federal Parliament, to suggest that, there is no outstanding difficulty over the extension of the Croydon-Rrisbane. air service across the Tasman, as Australian opinion, which was formerly against the use or seaplanes, has been modified.

Sir Arehdale Parkhill, answering questions from Mr. J. Curtin, the Leader of tho Opposition in the Federal Parliament, just before his departure for New Zealand, stated that he had been invited to New Zealand to discuss the section of the route between Australia and New Zealand, and not the whole scheme. This proposal involved the use of large flying boats.

Mr. Curtin then asked would flying boats end at Sydney or Darwin? Sir Arehdale Parkhill replied that under (he proposal they would stop at New Zealand. He contended that the negotiations by Australia had resulted in a saving to tho Commonwealth of £IOO,OOO, compared with the original British proposals, though finality bad not been reached in this respect. I The delegates to the conference were entertained at luncheon by the Government to-day. DEVELOPMENT NEEDED AUSTRALIAN OP'INIONS DTSCI rssION WELCOMED COSTS AND TERMINALS The development of aviation in the past 10 years and the expansion which would take place in the future made a trans-Tasmau air service at an early date both necessary and desirable, said the Australian Minister of Defence and Air Services, Sir Arehdale Parkhill, on his! arrival at Auckland from Sydney by the Awatea. Sir Arehdale has come to tho Dominion to confer with tho Government respecting the Australian-New Zealand section of tho proposed British air mail route from England. His Government had seized with avidity the chance for personal discussions, lie said. The whole project was of considerable magnitude, and involved important considerations which, as far as Australia and England were concerned, were approaching the stage of finality, 'Sir Arehdale said. Control, surcharges and costs would be among the principal questions discussed at Wellington. Terminals had so far not come under consideration, thai, being a matter which would be left to experts. Britain proposed flying-boats for the service, but there again Australia would no guided by the advice of experts. For psychological reasons it ■>eemod that flying-boats would be preferable on the Tasman. HIGHER DEFENCE COSTS

"No Government to-day can. refrain troin viewing the world position with anything but anxiety and disquiet., but Australian preparations are being made simply and entirely for defence," said Sir Arehdale, in discussing the increased Australian expenditure for that purpose. He believed there was little difference between the policy of Australia and of ..tlier nations, v. ho also were increasing their armaments. They were doing so in the interests of peace, and their action lid not suggest the imminence of war. "1 consider that the creation of a war psychology and a feeling that war is inevitable, is both inadvisable and ill-con-sidered," be added.

By reason of the depression and through following Great Britain's lead Australia had allowed her defences to fall into desuetude. Matters had altered now and, against a defence expenditure of '£3,200,000 in 1932, it was proposed to spend over £8,000,000 this year. The latter sum represented a balanced expenditure over the three services, all of which were being improved. CIVIL AVIATION EXPANDS

A defence programme initiated by tho Lyons Government in 1933-34 would end this year, but another programme, for three years, was being started immediately in order to accelerate, the defence improvements. Civil aviation, which was attached to the Defence Department because of its defence value, had made extraordinary strides recently. New lines were being inaugurated, and the mileage showed a large increase over past, years. The policy of tho Australian Government, was to improve the militia system through voluntary enlistment. Sir Archdale said. As that policy had been adopted in 1930, in the depths of (he depression, there consequently had been no money to carry it into effect, and it would therefore be unjust to say it had failed before it, had been given a. lair trial. OUTLOOK IN AUSTRALIA .Steps were being taken at a. cost of £250.CC0 to bring the present service personnel of 27,000 up lo a. required peace establishment of 35,000. A campaign had been proceeding for about eight weeks, and had every prospect of more than achieving its object. Great interest was being manifested in the campaign, and it was very satisfactory that employers m many cases not only'volunteered to make time available to employees, but also paid thorn their salaries, which the men received in addition lo their defence pay of 8s a day. Sh Arehdale briefly discussed what lie described as the prosperous outlook in Australia at present. He referred to the •■<-ased number of unemployed, to remissions in taxation, and to increases in soldiers', old age and invalidity pensions. He regretted that his visit to" New Zealand would be verv short, but he would be pleased to discuss with the Governmenl, any matters of common interest to Australia and New Zealand.