To Carpenters!

Air Transport Contracts in New Guinea

THE Government contract for air transportation in the goldfields end of New Guinea, which includes the carriage of mails, has been secured for the coming year, commencing August 1, by the aero plane service recently inaugurated by Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd.

The contract is in two sections—the Wau-Pt. Moresby run, which has been held by Guinea Airways Ltd. (who pioneered it); and the Lae-Salamaua- Wau run, which has been held during the past year by Messrs. Holden’s Air Trans port Services Ltd. Both sections will now be operated by the Carpenter service.

Hitherto the Carpenter service has not been competitive. Two small Moths have carried out transport work for Messrs.

W. R. Carpenter and Co. between Sala maua and Wau. It was not anticipated that the Carpenter machines would com pete with the existing aerial transport services. The announcement that the con tracts had been given to the Carpenter service came as a complete surprise.

It is reported that a new aeroplane— a Dragon Moth, 2-engined ’plane—is ar riving this month in Sydney to the order of Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd.

Mr. R. O. Mant, who has been flying one of the Carpenter machines in New Guinea, arrived in Sydney on the last Montoro, and it is understood that he will fly the Dragon Moth back to New Guinea and that it will be used on the Government contract work.

Guinea Airways Ltd. have been operat

ing- the Pt. Moresby-Wau service at 1/6 per lb. The distance from Wau to Pt.

Moresby is 200 miles, over a very high range of mountains, and some of the most inhospitable country in the world. On this trip there is loading only one way. The price at which Messrs. Carpenter and Co. have secured the contract is reported to be Hid per lb. It is reported also that the price for the new contract for the Salamaua-Wau run is 2¼d in, and 1 1/8d out.

Interesting developments are likely to fol low the arrival of this new competitor in the New Guinea aerial transport service.