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On 15th November, 1949, an exchange of notes was effected between New Zealand and France for reciprocal air traffic rights in respect of the regional air services operated by airlines designated by the signatory Governments. At present the French company TRAP AS is the only foreign operator providing air services through New Zealand Island territories. The company maintains a monthlv return service on the route Tontouta (New Caledonia) - Nadi (Fiji) - Faleolo (Western Samoa) -Aitutaki (Cook Islands) - Papeete (Tahiti) and Bora Bora (Society Islands), using Catalina aircraft. * An agreement between the Governments of New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia for the continued operation of Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., was signed at Wellington on 15th September, 1949. 4. Overseas Meetings and Visits During the year New Zealand was represented at five meetings overseas, concerned with matters of particular interest to civil aviation. (а) In June, 1949, the Third Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization met at Montreal. New Zealand was represented by Air Commodore Findlay, Head, New Zealand Joint Staff Mission, Washington (delegate), Mr. J. A. Malcolm, New Zealand Trade Commissioner, Montreal (adviser), and Mr. J.'f. Northey (adviser), of the Prime Minister's Department. The Assembly, which was attended by delegations from thirty-six countries, examined important administrative and financial problems concerning the Organization. (б) The second session of the International Administrative Aeronautical Radio Conference was convened at Geneva, Ist August, 1949. The Branch was represented by Mr. F. R. W. Andrews, Senior Communications Officer, who accompanied Mr. G. Searle, of the Post and Telegraph Department. There were representatives of fifty-two States and their colonial territories. The main work of the Conference was the allocation of radio frequencies on an equitable basis among the countries of the world. (c) A special Aeronautical Telecommunications Fixed Services Meeting, under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Far East and Pacific Office was convened in Melbourne, Victoria, from 4th to 7th July, 1949. New Zealand was represented by Mr. D. F. Jenkins, Principal Communications Officer, Civil Aviation Branch. Recommendations by previous ICAO Regional Air Navigation Meetings on aeronautical fixed circuits were reviewed to meet the request by the International Telecommunications Union that demands for frequencies be re-examined and reduced and consolidated to the utmost possible extent. The meeting was able to effect a reduction of approximately 50 per cent, in demands for aeronautical fixed service frequencies for the area covered by its terms of reference. (d) In continuation of discussions in February, 1949, meetings were held in Melbourne in May and October, 1949, and January, 1950, with Australia and the United Kingdom and their departmental and airline representatives concerning resolutions of the traffic conferences of the International Air Transport Association (I AT A). Messrs. T. A. Barrow, Air Secretary, and P. P. Heller, Planning and Economic Research Officer of the Civil Aviation Branch, were New Zealand's delegates. (e) A joint meeting was held in Paris of the Meteorological Division of ICAO (third session) and the International Meteorological Organization during February, 1950. Dr. R. G. Simmers, Assistant Director of Meteorological Services, attended on behalf of New Zealand. Among the items of outstanding importance dealt with were the consolidation of the Specifications for Meteorological Services for International Air Navigation and the preparation of material for inclusion in a further Annex to the ICAO Convention. Some study was also made of the physical conditions of those higher layers of the atmosphere, soon to be used for commercial aviation in view of the advent of jet-propelled aircraft. Other aspects of the joint meeting are fully treated in the report of the Director of Meteorological Services.

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