SHIPS FOR PACIFIC

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 69, 14 December 1937, Page 3

SHIPS FOR PACIFIC

•Press Association.)

Agreement Awaits Approval of Governments TASMAN AIR SERVICE

(By Telegraph—

" AUCKLAND, Last Night. No precise information as to the future plans for shipping in the Pacific could be stated by Mr. N. S. Falla, onanaging-directoT of the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., when he returned from an extended visit to Britain, by the Niagara. However, he said that a draft agreement with the companies, embodying the deliberations of the Imperial Conference, was recently plaeed before the various Governments for approval. "When this approval is forthcoming, ' ' Mr. Falla explained, "the construction of two vessels along the linea of the Imperial shipping report of 1936, to replace existing ships, remains to be arranged. ' ' Eecent Australian statements thal definite progress had been made with a scheme for the establishment of a Tasman air service under the joint control of the United Kingdom, Australian and New Zealand Governments, were referred to Mr. Falla, and it was suggested that Imperial Airways, Qantas Airways and Union Airways of New Zealand, Ltd., would be co-operating in a service from England to New Zealand. He 'said there was nothing he could say on these proposals at the present juncture, as they were still engaging the afcten|tion df the Governments concerned. It 'raight be natural to assume that the isurvey flight of the Centaurus would be Ihe forerunner of a regular service. Eeferring to shipbuilding in Great Britain, Mr. Falla said the construction of many naval vessels was proceeding, ;but this activity was not so marked in the construction of marchant ships, on eccount of increased costs.