PACIFIC AIR MAILS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20284, 6 December 1935, Page 16

PACIFIC AIR MAILS

ATTACK ON NEW ZEALAND’S DECISION United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, December 4. The English newspaper “Aeroplane” emhasises that the New Zealand-Pan-Ameriean agreement does not place the United States and the British Empire on an equal footing, as it is merely between a private company and New Zealand, in which the United States Government can argue that it is not interested. It does not bind America to allow British airliners to use Hawaii. The proviso enabling New Zealand to cancel the contract at a year’s notice is worthless, as the PanAmerican could reduce fares, multiply services and make themselves indispensable. If the Pan-American, for political reasons, resolve to capture the traffic, nobody else would stand a chance. It is capable of paying New Zealanders to travel to the United States as Britain paid a subsidy of £8 per head on cross-Channel passengers in the early days of air transport.

The Dominions’ Office is not concerned in the deal, out of which the American State Department has carefully kept itself, and is thus free to do what it likes in respect to the Empire Pacific Airways. It is a gorgeous example of diplomatic finesse, combined with bluff, worthy of first class poker, plus the ancient pastime of giving someone else the baby to hold.