TASMAN AIR SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 June 1938, Page 8

TASMAN AIR SERVICE

INAUGURATION IN SIGHT NEGOTIATIONS APPROACHING COMPLETION (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ■ WELLINGTON, This Day. Confirmation of a Canberra report that the trans-Tasman air mail service will probably commence just before Christmas or early in the New Year was given by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon M. J. Savage, in an interview last evening. “I would say it will not be later than that,” he said. Mr Savage said the formal part of the negotiations for the inauguration of the service was rapidly approaching completion. “Representatives of the three Governments concerned—Britain, Australian and New Zealand—will be meeting in London before very long to finalise the question. We are advising the High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan to represent us. Whatever details it is necessary to send to him will be sent.” Asked whether any date had been fixed for the London meeting, Mr Savage said he did not see any reason for delay. There were several Australian Ministers in London at present and the probability was that the meeting would take place almost immediately. Mr Savage said that if it were not intended to bring the trans-Tasman service into operation fairly soon rearrangement of the steamer services between New Zealand and Sydney would be necessary to make fuller use of the Empire air mail service from Australia. “But what we are aiming at now seems to be likely to be accomplished in the near future, and that will overcome a lot of the worry about steamer services,” he added. NO MEETING IN LONDON. ACCORDING TO FEDERAL MINISTER. (Recd This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 21. The Australian Attorney-General (the Rt. Hon. R. G. Menzies) stated that the Australian delegation was not aware that a meeting between England, Australia and New Zealand was contemplated in London in connection with the Trans-Tasman air mail, as reported by Mr Savage. Mr Menzies added that he understands that the completion of details regarding the service is being carried out at Canberra and Wellington, in consultation with London.