NEW ZEALAND’S AERIAL MAIL SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND’S AERIAL MAIL SERVICES

NOT MODELLED ON AMERICAN

LINES.

An official statement issued by the Manufacturers’ Aircraft Association of .New York mentions that New Zealand is establishing airplane mail services along lines ptoven to be practical by the United States Post Office Department. The statement has been forwarded to the New Zealand correspondent of "The' Aeroplane” by the editor of that paper for investigotion. It says that! a Mr. J. B.‘Murphy, of Timaru, "one of the big cities of ihe South Island, New Zealand,” has made these statements in New York. It goes on to say in reference to Mr. Murphy: "He is already carrying passengers around the 13,066 foot I 'peak of Mount Cook in small machines. supplied his' company by the New Zealand Government. The Government is also encouraging civilian aeronautics by the enactment of laws and establishing landing fields. Mr. Murphy’s company will operate out of Timarti between Chr:sfcl , ""'*h ) Dunedin, and Invercargill. 100 miles in one direction and 100 miles in i>n<t’ier. He has a contract to .carry the flying mails." According to the Postmaster-General, the majority of this report is incorrect. The New Zealnnd mail services are not being modelled on the American services. .Certainly the Government has just, enacted certain aerial laws, but they are for the safetv of tho civilian -population rather than the encouraging of civilian aeronautics. The question of landing-grounds has not yet been gone into, ami tlio Now Zraiand Aero Transport Company-whirl) operates from Timaru —has no'! been given a contract to carry mails. The Christchiifcli-Tiniaru service run bv the Canterbury Aviation Company, has been discontinued, but a (Fristchtirch-Blenheim service is being arranged. ______