TASMAN AIR SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 May 1934, Page 6

TASMAN AIR SERVICE.

Mr- Ulm is once again winging bis way to New Plymouth across the stormy Tasman Sea. Tasman crossings by air have become ?O frequent that they have now lost a large part of their novelty, and it is apparent that a commercial service i? within range. The repeated assertions of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr. Ulm, the actual experience of these and other pilots and the opinion in Australia as represented on the map published in this morning’s issue all point to the acceptance of New Plymouth as the permanent terminal of Tasman ‘flights, and the question arises: “What is the next step?” Several fundamental facts present themselves. In the first place, at least one notable airman is definitely contemplating the establishment of such a service; secondly, it is fairly obvious that Australia, having gained the Lon-don-Sydney service, is very little interested in extending it to New Zealand; thirdly, there is no possibility of a Tasman commercial air service being a success unless it is heavily subsidised, at any rate in the early stage?. A logical rejoinder will be: “Why establish such a service if the demand dees pot warrant it?” And the logical answer would be that there is no reason, except that pioneering work must be done sooner or later, and until that is done no profit can be expected. There is another factor, however, that puts a different complexion on the matter, and that is Empire defence. Jt is no secret that the question of defence had an intimate bearing on the establishment of most of the principal Empire air services, for an established commercial service is easily convertible into a military one if the necessity arises. Taking everything into consideration there are ground? for the New Zealand Government giving the matter serious thought if and when a request is made for a subsidy on a Sydney-New Plymouth service. Before Such a service is instituted, of course, some progress must be made in the organising and conduct of internal services, and a wireless beacon must be erected at New Plymouth. Whereas the former is primarily a matter for private enterprise the latter, and with it the actual Tasman service, is primarily a natipnal responsibility. For both commercial and other reasons it is to be hoped that the taking of the next forward step is not too long delayed.