THREE-PARTY CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 22453, 25 September 1936, Page 11

THREE-PARTY CONFERENCE

DELEGATIONS FROM AUSTRALIA AND BRITAIN TASMAN AIR MAIL AND OTHER IMPERIAL ISSUES [From Ouk Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 24. The Australian and New Zealand Governments are expecting to settle several important points of difficulty as the. result of the conference which, will open this (Friday) morn - g in Parliament Buildings, with ; representatives from Britain, Australia; and New Zealand participating. The conference is fairly large, numerically as well as influentially, and the old Legislative Council chamber with committee rooms lias been placed at its disposal, for it is recognised that the discussions may be prolonged. The gathering took its origin in the decision of the New Zealand Ministers several months ago that outstanding questions affecting both sides of the Tasman could only be settled by personal talks. It was found impossible, owing to _ the Labour Government’s active legislative programme in its first session, to spare Ministers for a visit to Australia; therefore the invitation went from Wellington to the Commonwealth, which has responded by sending Sir Archdale Parkhill (Minister of Defence, and former PostmasterGeneral of the Commonwealth), Mr H. P. Brown (Director of Postal Services), Captain Johnston (Controller of Civil Aviation), Mr M. L. Shepherd (Secretary for Defence), and Mr M. B. Murray (Chief Inspector of Postal Services). Though trade and defence questions will eventually receive attention, it is evident that the first business is the extension of the Croydon-Brisbane biweekly air mail across the Tasman to New Zealand. There is a difficulty over Australian acceptance of the Imperial Government’s proposals, which involve a very liberal subsidy, as the British scheme provides for a postage rate of IJd and no a;r mail surcharge all firstclass matter being taken by the fastest route. Schedules worked out over a year ago for the former PostmasterGeneral showed that the modern fourengined seaplanes under construction for Imperial Airways could transport all New Zealand’s first-class overseas mail if two trips weekly across the Tasman were arranged, but the IJd postage would conflict with Australia’s internal postage rate of 2d. The presence of Mr F. G. L. Bertram, of the civil branch of the British Air Ministry, at the conference will assist to secure all-round agreement. Mr Bertram’s visit, which is likely to be fairly lengthy, also involves advice regarding the development of commercial aviation in the Dominion. The Cabinet committee attending today’s conference for discussion of the overseas air mail comprises Mr Nash (Minister of Finance), Mr Jones (Post-master-General),. Mr Semple (in his capacity as Minister of Transport), and Mr Fraser (Minister of Marine). This committee, with the Prime Minister, informally met Mr Bertram and Mr P. Leishing, of the High Commissioner’s Office (Canberra), on Thursday, when Mr G, M'Namura (Director-General of the Post Office), Wing-commander Wilkes (Director of Civil Aviation), and Mr Cornish (Crown Solicitor) wore also present. Sir Archdale Parkill arrives in New' Zealand next week. It is not expected that anything will be divulged during the lengthy deliberations of the conference, the Prime Minister remarking that important issues were involved, and it would not be fair to all the interests concerned to have, public statements until decisions could be reached. For that reason he preferred not to disclose the details of the order paper, although he agreed that more than one subject will receive attention during this unique opportunity for a round-table discussion.