EMPIRE AIR MAILS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21409, 27 February 1935, Page 11

EMPIRE AIR MAILS

Conference Continues Discussions REDUCTIONS SOUGHT IN CHARGES (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECTKIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (Received February 26, p.m.) SYDNEY, February 26. The New Zealand delegates to the Air Mail Conference attended tonight the Imperial Airways' exhibition, which was officially opened by the Hon. R. A. Parkhill (Minister for

Defence). The exhibition includes photographs of the England-Aus-tralia air route, and models of many types of aeroplanes, especially those employed in air mail services. The Hon. A. Hamilton (New Zealand) congratulated the Commonwealth on its development of aviation. He added that the flight to New Zealand by J. D. Hewett and C. E. Kay, after competing in the Melbourne Centenary air race, demonstrated the feasibility of linking up the Dominion of New Zealand with the great Empire air services. He paid a tribute to the pioneering work of Sir Chai'les Kings/ord-Smith and Mr C. T. P. Ulm in this respect. Mr Parkhill states that if the air mail proposals of the British delegation are accepted by the Commonwealth, a 15 years' agreement, with provision for a revision every three years, will be sought. The Minister said that the question of the extent to which the agreement would be entered into by the Commonwealth had not yet been resolved. The "Sun" says that it is understood that the Australian and New Zealand delegates still hold the view that the lid a half ounce rate proposed by Britain would impose a prohibitive cost on the Commonwealth and on New Zealand. A move is being made to reach a compromise. It is also understood that some delegates may suggest that flying boats should be employed between Singapore and Darwin, and land aeroplanes between Darwin and Sydney, as an alternative to the proposal to employ flying boats for the whole distance. No official statement relating to the discussions of the conference has yet been issued, but it is believed that the question of a transTasman air service is being considered to-day. The proposal is for a weeklv service between Sydney and New r Zealand.

AUSTR ALIA'S DIFFICULTIES EFFECT ON NEW ZEALAND (Received February 27, 12.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, February 26. Mr Hamilton stated to-night that the conference had been engaged in discussing many intricate problems. There were still a few Australian difficulties to be overcome, and until that was achieved, it was not possible to proceed further with the discussion of the position as it affected New Zealand.