AIR SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 25343, 23 July 1935, Page 8

AIR SERVICES

ACROSS THE TASMAN SIR CHARLES KINGSFORD SMITH’S PROPOSALS NINE HOURS’ JOURNEY (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, July 22. “It is now up to New Zealand. If your Government says ‘Yes,’ the transTasman air service can be put into operation with a minimum of delay. The Commonwealth Government is most favourable to the scheme,” said Sir Charles Kingsford Smith on his arrival from Sydney to-day. He said that Imperial Airways, which was a private dividend-earning firm, had never considered making New Zealand the last air port in its route until he had announced he was entering the field. Why should Imperial Airways receive ttny preference over the company formed by New Zealanders and Australians? A link could still be made with the Imperial scheme. “The Tasman crossing is purely a domestic service,” said Sir Charles. "We have the personnel, the technicians and the capital, and above all we have the ethical right to conduct the service. We are the pioneers of the Tasman crossing and so far no outsiders have shown any willingness to spend money on a survey of the route, they are prepared, however, to use all the .information we have gained over recent years and to walk in for the job would not be a fair thing.” Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said he would fly to Wellington to-morrow to place before the Government his proposals for a service. He would suggest the use of American flying-boats carrying 20 passengers and luggage and a ton of mails. They would cross the Tasman in nine hours. A bi-weekly service each way was proposed from Sydney to Auckland harbour. He expressed the opinion that the single fare would be £25 at first, but that it would be reduced later on. He said that if a reasonable subsidy were not forthcoming from the New Zealand Government for a flying boat service, he would propose an alternative service for mails only to be carried by land planes. The American twin-engined Douglas plane was underconsideration. It had a speed of 185 to 200 miles per hour. It had been suggested that the proportion of the subsidy paid by the New Zealand Government should be 60 per cent, and Australia 40, but a later suggestion which had been discussed was a long term agreement with both countries contributing equally. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith will leave Wellington on Friday for New Plymouth and sail on Saturday from Auckland for Los Angeles.