AIR SERVICES

Evening Star, Issue 22459, 2 October 1936, Page 3

AIR SERVICES

BRIDGING TASMAN BY FLYING BOAT REPORTED RESULT OF CONFERENCE [Pee United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, October 1. Substantial progress lias boon made during the last few days in the discussions between the Now Zealand, Australian, and British representatives regarding Empire air mails and tho proposed operation at an early date of tho air service across the Tasman. The discussions have been proceeding in camera. It is expected that finality on a number of important matters will be reached to-morrow, before the Australian delegation, headed by the Commonwealth Minister of Defence, Sir Atrchdale Parkhill, leaves by the Awatea in the afternoon. It is suggested that plans have been completed at the conference for the establishment of a flyingboat service across the Tasman, and that the difficulties in connection with the Empire air mail service have to a large extent been removed. However, finality has not been reached, and even if the conference reaches agreements on these important matters, the decisions will have to be considered in detail and ratified by the Governments concerned. The termination of tho conference today will bring to a close only one part of the aviation discussions as far as New Zealand is concerned. Mr F. G. L. Bertram, Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation in tho British Ministry, who has been representing tho British Government at the discussions, will remain in New Zealand to make investigations and advise tlie Government on various aspects of commercial air services within the Dominion. It is understood that Mr Bertram will travel extensively in the Dominion in older to obtain first-hand knowledge of local conditions.