AIR SERVICES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1933, Page 6

AIR SERVICES.

The proposals said to have been made to the Government of the United States for a huge loan in order that landing bases for aeroplanes may be established in the Atlantic Ocean Is a reminder that air transport is developing rapidly. It is stated that the engineering difficulties of such a proposal can be overcome and that by the establishment of these floating aerodromes a regular, safe air service between Europe and America could be established. On the same day that this announcement was made reports were issued of the construction of a huge Russian aeroplane with accommodation for 128 passengers, and of the departure of the first air mail from England to Rangoon under the control of Imperial Airways, Ltd. The use of the new section from Akyab to Rangoon will enable mails to be landed in Burma eight days after leaving London, and it is hoped that before Christmas air mail services from Rangoon to Singapore will also be established. The next stage, from Singapore to Darwin, will be undertaken by the Australian Government, and inquiry as to its cost is already proceeding. It is estimated that when the service is commenced Australian mails from London will reach the southern capitals in 12 or 13 days, and that as experience is gained it may be possible to reduce the time occupied. For New Zealand the problem of linking with the Australian air mail service is complicated by the difficulty of crossing the stormy Tasman Sea. It is possible, however, that by a rearrangement of steamer services some speeding-up of the Dominion’s mails may be found possible. The reports of progress elsewhere are an intimation that New Zealand cannot afford to be idle in developing transport by air.