The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Time*. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1933 FLYING SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 November 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Time*. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1933 FLYING SERVICE

Auswama is to be linked up shortly with the flying service over the northern hemisphere, and New Zealand is to participate in the value of the service, for which purpose the Government has resolved to make a contribution. The plans for the Australian service are now made, and tenders are being called for the service, closing at the end of January next. Australia’s responsibility is to pick up the mails at Singapore flying overseas to Darwin. From Darwin there will be two routes—the eastern flying via Brisbane to Cootamundura, and the western via Broome to Perth. The Imperial route may be said therefore to teminate at Darwin, and the remainyder will be by internal lines. There will be separate tenders for the three divisions into which the whole has been divided, hut this does not conform with the general belief, that on a long line, unity of control with uniformity of aircraft and the advantages of a single organisation, is preferable to a multiplicity of con-, meeting iinks all managed separately. There is another feature of the proposal which is being criticised. That is in relation to the decision to make Cootamundura. a terminus on the eastern division. The centre selected is well to the west of Sydney, and the failure to take the mails o n by air to Sydney and Melbourne can be explained oniy by opposition from the State ■railways. This transhipment of the major part of the mail matter to the railways must add to the cost of the service, for it is obvious that the additional cost of carrying tho mails over the nir the extra 200 or SCO miles to Sydney and Melbourne, would be negligible in comparison with the rest of the service of well over 2000 miles. There must also be extra delay, and the time likely to he lost might affect very easily steamer connections for the New Zealand section of the mail matter. Probably when the seriee is in practice, the effect will be appreciated more thoroughly, and doubtless it should he possible to make amendments. A gratifying feature of the conditions of contract is the provision for equipment of a high quality. The aircraft required must be multi-engined, carry a crew of four, remain in the air when one engine is out of action, and must be of British construction. Performances of a high standard are stipulated for, and the companies must be incorporated in Australia, and directors and shareholders be all British subjects. The overseas service, that it, from Singapore to Darwin, is. to be operative for three months before passengers are carried. Mails are/to have preference in the loading of aicraft, and time-table must be adhered under penalties foi late running unless caused by delay on a connecting service. Mail matter is now being accelerated considerably by the aerial services with which a close connection is made in the East. The Australian service will cause a further chopping off of time, and will result in the Homeland being brought much nearer, .1 his closer connection should facilitate trade and intercourse, and intercourse, and at the same time should help internationally to a better understanding. Much is feared from aerial warfare, but with the establishment of civil and commercial flying, and the closer interests thereby engendered, the nations will see moie of each other and learning more of respective view-points come to a better and saner understanding. The facilities for aerial communication now being afforded thus promise to supply world benefits of untold value.