EMPIRE AIR MAILS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 355, 9 February 1937, Page 6

EMPIRE AIR MAILS

NEW AGREEMENT. ' DETAILS REVEALED. Australia Controls Southern Section. Press Association—Copyright. Sydney, February 8. Details of the Empire air mail agreement was announced by the Commonwealth Government to-night. The British Government has- approved of the Commonwealth retaining control of the Singapore to Sydney section, while the Commonwealth has agreed to flying-boats being used on this.; section for two years, but if these prove unsatisfactory the agreement will be reviewed thereafter.

The agreement, which provides for a surcharge of fivepence per half ounce on outgoing mail, will run for 15 years. The service is expected to operate on January 1, 1938. Mail subsidy payments to the Orient Shipping Company will be reduced on account of the transference oT mails to the air service. Australia has undertaken to pay an annual subsidy to rise from a minimum of £40,000 to £52,000 per an* num at a rate proportionate to the growth of mail payments. Australia will also pay ground organisation costs to the extent of £30,000.

The agreement contemplates the pooling of the resources of equipment and personnel of Imperial Airways and associated companies along the whole route, while all major repairs will be dond in England. The ground organisation along the Australian coast will be constructed and manned by the Commonwealth and that near Singapore and the Netherlands will be undertaken by the British Government.

Fares and freight rates on the Australian section will be subject to the approval of the Commonwealth. It is expected a timetable of 10$ days will be achieved between London and Sydney, but this will be expedited to 71 da.ys when lighting and other ground organisation services along the route are completed, facilitating night flying.