WEEKLY AIR SERVICE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 239, 10 May 1933, Page 6

WEEKLY AIR SERVICE

LONDON TO AUS'I RALIA Steamer Connection with New Zealand FIVE YEARS’ AGREEMENT Press Association —Copyright London, May 1). Lord Londonderry has issued a memorandum embodying the principal provisions of a weekly air service between London and Australia, connecting with steamer to New Zealand. The proposed contra;-. Will .uperial Airways will provide a serv. . c. tween Karachi and Singapore via Calcutta and Rangoon, connecting with the London to Karachi and Singapore to Darwin services. The agreement with Imperial Airways will run for approximately five years, commencing from the date of the opening of the Darwin to Singapore section and terminating on March 1, 1939, on which date the existing Anglo-Indian service agreement expires. The Karachi to Singapore section will be opened jointly by Imperial Airways and an Indian company. The maximum subsidies for the Karachi to Singapore service will be £40,000, for the first year, for the through service to Australia £30,000 for the second and third years, and thereafter £20,000 annually. The Governments of India, the Straits Settlements and Malaya have undertaken to provide and maintain grounds and other facilities, including wireless and meteorology, in their territories. For through mails between England and Australia Imperial Airways and the Indian company will receive 24s a pound and Australia 16s a pound. Lord Londonderry says the simultaneous inauguration of the service between Karachi and Singapore and Darwin and Singapore is impracticable. Therefore he proposes an interim service to Calcutta in July, Rangoon in October and Singapore by the New Year. For that reason special temporary terms are being arranged. He confidently expects the Darwin to Singapire section to be operating by April next. The inclusive charge for a half-ounce letter between Britain and Australia or New Zealand will be Is 3d.