REGULAR OCEAN SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1935, Page 4

REGULAR OCEAN SERVICE

KINGSFORD SMITH’S HOPE AIRMAN ARRIVES AT WELLINGTON. PROPOSED FLIGHT WITH FREIGHT. NEW PLYMOUTH STILL FAVOURED. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, March 13. Interviewed on the arrival of the Wanganella, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said there was a possibility he would fly the Southern Cross to New Zealand within the next two months. He would carry freight if sufficient firms were interested to make the flight worth while, and possibly on the return trip he would carry mail and drop it at Lord Howe Island. He indicated that the Southern Cross would made only one more Tasman flight. “The ‘Old Bus’,” he said, “has earned a rest,” / The flight will be made with a view to the establishment of a regular service. He intends to spend about ten days in New Zealand and thinks the proposed flight with freight will be well supported because of the novelty. Thereafter he hopes a service will be maintained. He said that if the Governments of Australia and New Zealand decided to proceed with the establishment of a regular passenger service across the Tasman it could be started at any time. However, the Australian Government considered that tire time was not opportune at present and he had lost interest in the project for the time being. He still considers New Plymouth airport the best situated aerodrome for a trans-Tasman service with Sydney. LANDPLANES PROBABLY SUITABLE AMERICAN MACHINES TOO COSTLY. Sir Charles Kingford Smith’s navigator, Captain P. G. Taylor, who arrived at Fremantle by the Mooltan today said he was specially interested in the proposed air service across the Tasman, with New Plymouth as the New Zealand terminal. Captain Taylor explained that there was a special type of seaplane being manufactured in America most suitable for the Australia-New Zealand service, but it was too costly. On the other hand Fokker “36” landplanes should meet the needs of the service.