MAILS BY AIR

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 9

MAILS BY AIR

ACROSS THE TASMAN. THE BRITIBH PROPOSALS. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. SYDNEY, Feb. 21. The Canberra correspondent of the Sun says an Invitation has been extended to the New Zealand Government to send a representative to Australia to discuss with the Commonwealth points of mutual interest in the new air mail proposals submitted by Britain. The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, said to-day that the air link with New Zealand was involved in the British proposals. If agreement can be reached between Australia and Britain as to the rest of the service the British Government desired the transtasman section to be added so as to terminate the complete service in New Zealand, where later the transpacific service from America might connect with it. It is understood that the British proposals envisage control of the entire route by Imperial Airways, Limited, including the transtasman link. This, if adopted, would mean the end of the hopes of establishing an independent Tasman service by Australian and New Zealand interests. Mr J. A Lyons stated yesterday that he was not prepared to discuss the air mail position while the negotiations with Britain were proceeding. The British authorities had submitted modified proposals which did not vary greatly from their original proposals. These were being examined by the Federal Cabinet. It was not considered likely that any full statement would be made until after the Federal assembles in March.