TASMAN AIR-MAIL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20035, 6 September 1939, Page 14

TASMAN AIR-MAIL

DELAYED START UNLIKELY^ ‘ALL-UP’ RATE CANCELLED BRITISII-N.Z. MAILS SEA TRANSPORT PEE (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Questions concerning the transTasman air-mail service were put to the Postmaster-General, the Hon. F. Jones, when the vpte for the Post and Telegraph Department was under consideration in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, inquired who was the controlling authority in New Zealand for trans-Tasman seivice and nor, were the conditions of the contract as between New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom? He noticed that £20,000 appeared on the estimates for the Vancouver mail service. What was the reason? Mr. Jones replied that the all-up air-mail scheme had temporarily gone by the board and the Vancouver service would be utilised. Therefore, the full subsidy would be available. Proportion of Shares The arrangements for the company to operate the trans-Tasman service had not been finalised, but the shares would be held in the proportions of New Zealand £39,000, Britain £38,000 and Australia £23,000, this being based on the amount of mail matter conveyed to New Zealand. Of the New Zealand capital, 20 per cent would be held by the Government and 19 per cent by the Union Air- ■ vs. while in Australia the Qantas Company would provide some of the capital and in Britain the reorganised Airways Corporation would provide the capital. So far as the costal subsidy was concerned, New Zealand’s payments for mails would be £20,000 per annum when the service was inaugurated, and there was also a £15,000 subsidy towards the Empire air-mail scheme. One of the flyingboats was in New Zealand and the other two were expected by November. The Rt. Hen. G. W. Forbes (Nat.. Hurunui): Will the scheme be held up? The Minister: No. The British Government will continue a restricted service to Australia and we will have to pay Is Gd a half ounce. The existing rate of ltd a half ounce will be continued by steamer.