Services.
p. 45 · Read in the full issue
New Guinea Aerial
The Government Contract.
COMPETITION is keeping aerial freight rates on the New Guinea goldfields services at a low level, and none of the companies is making large profits.
It is reported that the Holden Com pany has secured the Administration’s contract for transport for the current year. The contract, last year, was held by Mr. Ray Parer’s Company (P.A.T.C.).
When the late “Les” Holden, famous airman and popular “digger”, flew up casually to New Guinea in his trusty “Canberra”, to look over the air-freight ing business, he laid the foundation of an important industry. Competition was keen, but he got his share of available business, and he and Pilot O’Dea, most loyal henchman, soon put “Holden’s Air Transport Service” on the goldfields map. The accidental death of the prin cipal, while on furlough in Australia, shocked the whole community, and it was thought, naturally, that this cal amity would cause the withdrawal of the Holden company from New Guinea.
But several of the late airman’s friends rallied around; Mr. H. W. Holden (Mr.
Les Holden’s father) took charge in Sydney and Pilot O’Dea in New Guinea; and to-day the Holden Company is suc cessfully running a small fleet of aero planes in New Guinea and handling a fair share of the available business.
The two big tri-motored monoplanes, “Peter” and “Paul,” operated by Guinea Airways, Ltd., as part of their big fleet, on behalf of the Bulolo Company, al though they have been in service for over two years under most severe tropi cal conditions, are in remarkably good order. Last month, while “Paul” was undergoing an overhaul, “Peter” carried 223 tons of freight between the coast and the goldfield—without fuss or accident.
“Paul,” although submitted to a gruel ling examination, was found to be in a wonderful condition—a few adjustments to the usual wearing parts was all the attention required to put the big machine back into commission in A1 order.
The two areoplanes put into commis sion by Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co., Ltd., to carry merchandise between Sala maua and Wau, are providing a satis factory and reliable service.
There is no doubt that these New Guinea aerial services are doing their full share in proving to the world that this form of transport is safe, reliable and practicable.