Fiji Airways.

Local Committee Approves of Proposed Regular Seaplane Service.

THOUGH the air service maintained in Fiji by Captain Fenton has been in valuable, a regular seaplane service is essential to the Colony and should soon be in operation.

A committee appointed to consider the establishment of the service pro posed by Fiji Airways, Ltd., tabled its report at a meeting of the Legislative Council at Suva recently. The members of the committee were Sir Maynard Hedstrom, Sir Henry Scott, and Messrs.

J. P. Bayley, A. A. Ragg and A. C.

Barnes (chairman).

In making an offer to run the service, Mr.

A. G. Cross and Mr. G. Jeffrey, of Guinea Airways, Ltd., came equipped with valu able experiencing in establishing a simi lar service in the tropics. Their proposal to the committee was that they should provide a capital of £10,000 and operate

two single-engined “Genairco” seaplanes, a powerful speedboat carrying ten pas sengers, a small motor boat, and build suitable hangars and provide an expert staff. The company would be known as Fiji Airways, Ltd.

The committee reported favourably on their proposal. After having heard Cap tain Fenton and Mr. A. H. Marlowe it recommended as follows; (1) That provision be made in the Colonial Esti mates of a sum of £1,500 per annum for a period of three years for the promotion of civil aviation in the Colony; (2) That favourable consideration be given to the proposals of Fiji Airways, Ltd.; (3) That if the establishment of a seaplane service by Fiji Airways, Ltd., be approved by the Secretary of State for the Colonies the concessions asked for regarding the sub sidy of £1,300, and the admission duty free of the machines and equipment to the Colony; (4) That having regard to the advice of the acting Commissioner of Works (the Hon.

A. A. Ragg) approval be given to the accept ance of licences and certificates of air worthiness issued by the Australian Civil Aviation Department, subject to the com pany permitting examination of machines and equipment by a Government nominee at Any time; (5) That seaplanes imported for the operation of the service be accompanied by certificates of airworthiness.

Captain Fenton was complimented on the service he had given in the past by the Colonial Secretary, who moved the adoption of the recommendation. He had, however, been unable to maintain a regular service and the Government had not seen fit to continue the subsidy.

Sir Henry Scott, a member of the com mittee, pointed out that it was impos sible for one man to maintain a regu lar service.

The service will be inaugurated with single engined machines, the efficiency of which had been proved by Captain Fen ton. Later two-engined ’planes will be used.

The new service will take care of Captain Fenton’s interests. The com pany has offered to buy his machine and accessories at a price fixed by an arbi trator appointed by Sir Murchison Fletcher, and to include him in the staff at a salary of at least £300 p.a.

The Company proposes to begin with a service across the Koro Sea. At first the fares will be fairly high, but they will be reduced as the traffic increases.