Pacific Aviation

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 56, 22 March 1937, Page 6

Pacific Aviation

-Fresa Association.)

LANDING RIGHTS Question of Reciprocity Raised BRITISH PROJECT

(By T«lesrrapb-

. . "WELLXN GTON, Laat Night, It Ji generally believed in New Zeajknd politics! circles that a strong ^ Bnancial company representing various iBrithth countries interested in Pacific javiation will be formed in the near tfaturo with a view to inaugurating a jeommercial service between North SAmerio* and New Zealand and Ausftralia. This project must neeessarily ^■aise the question of reciprocal l&nding jrights on 'ih© islands, territorial watera jand abores of countries bordering the JPacific over which tbe projected and prospectivo American and Britisb avia* »ion service routes will run. ! There is keen New Zealand interest Sn the subjeet and private xeporta from Australia ahow that Tepresentative Ausjtralians are no less interested and ara jclosely watchicg developments, particuosrly in view of the fact that a PanpAmerioan Airways Clipper is making an jsxploratory flight from San Francisco Lto AucMand by way of Honolulu and: jSamoa. Although xepresentatives of the Newj Zealand Government are reticent as toi the terxas of the agreement with Pan-J American Airways, it is learned aufchoritatively that one clause at least actuaHy, provides for the granting of recip-rocal-rigMs by America to any prospecjtve British company. It is pointea out, jhowever, that. this provision, which was included when the agreement was first • signed in 1935 before the present Govjernment secured office, has not the' jauthority of the Government of ihe' jUiiited States of America behind it. In •other words the ; agreement is with „the American company only, to whom there wai granted a few days ago an extension to the end of this year of the ' jpsriod ^ which to begin its projected jeervicee between San Francisco, and AucMand. . . '

. Tims the position is that the real tesi . *f the agreement will be a comprehen-l •ive British company 's application for: reciprocal rights enabling its aircraft i to land on American territory and, waters and enjoy the same facilities as' fchose granted Pan- American Airways. • A cablegram from the Prime Minisj*®r of Australia, Bt. Hon. J. A. Lyons.i jto the New Zealand Government, dis-j P°ses » recent Australian Press ro-, port that the Commonwealth authoritiesi had not been consulted by the Bomin-' Iioxl Govemment about the extension of! xxme granted to the American company.' Xt is stated by Mr. Lyons that appar-j Ontly some misunderstanding had ariseni ,w connection with the report to Kew; ealand newspapers, because he had at; jo time suggested to the Australian 'Press that Australia had not been con-, e 7 t&Q New Zealand Grovernment. On the contrary, not only had there! been a thorough consultation, but he: bel"1£ of Oommon.; woalth Govemment h»d ngreed on March 10 to an extension of time to' Pan- American Airways. _ i