THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN AIR MAIL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 23, 11 February 1937, Page 4

THE ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN AIR MAIL

Possibly no great notice will haverbeen taken by the man in the street of _ the messages we have had during the week intimating that the British and Australian Governments had at length come to final agreement with regard to the jpermanent eonduct of the air-mail service between the Old Country and the Commonwealth. . Still, as being an essential preliminary to the extension of the service to this Dominion, the conclusion of these long-protracted negotiatiohs is of outstanding importance to us on this side of the Tasman Sea. They have now been going on for over two years, it being found diffieult to adjust! several differing points of view. In the firat place the British authorities hesitated about committing the control of the Singapore-Darwin section of the air-route to Australia. This, however, has now been conceded. Then Australia wanted the Darwin-Sydney section to be carried on as at present by the overland route and with the customary overland machines. The British Government wished to follow a coastal route with seaplanes, and in this it has prevailed. Great Britain wanted to adopt a uniform three-halfpenny postal Tate both ways. Australia inskted on the imposition of a fivepenny surcharge in respect of all mail matter leaving the Commonwealth and in this has got her way. Judging, however, from what the London "Times" says as reported to-day, this surcharge will not apply to New Zealand letters passing through Australia, on which the postage rate will presumably be & matter for our own Government to decide. In any event, the way is uow clear for the practical consideration of the exteneion of the service to New Zealand, and no doubt our Government will lose no time in getting to work on this part of it. Indeed, it may reasonably be assumed that a good deal has already been done in anticipation of the agreement that has now been reached.