Carpenters’ Sydney—N.G.

Air Service Postponed Federal Government to Call for Tenders

'X'HE inauguration of the air line between -*■ Australia and New Guinea, which had been planned by Messrs. W. R. Carpenter and Co. Ltd. for the end of June, was post poned when it was learned that the Federal Government would shortly invite tenders for a subsidised service.

The Federal Cabinet, on July 9, approved of tenders being called for a weekly two way air line between Sydney and the Man dated Territory, carrying mails and pas sengers. A good landing-ground will be made at Cooktown, and the provision of necessary facilities at other places along the route will be proceeded with immedi ately.

The ’planes, which may be of either sea or land types, will call at Brisbane, Rock hampton, Townsville, Cooktown, Horne Island (near Thursday Island), Daru (Western Papua), and Wau.

The Prime Minister’s Department advises that it is too early yet to give an indication when tenders will be published. The terms and conditions will be decided after consultation with the Civil Aviation Board and the Administrations of Papua and New Guinea.

Guinea Airways Or Carpenters?

It is presumed that the only two seri ous contenders for this service will be Messrs. Guinea Airways Ltd. and Messrs.

W. R. Carpenter and Co, Ltd. Guinea Airways have an excellent ground organisa tion at Lae and other centres and have recently brought out from America four new, modern ’planes, the largest of which has accommodation for 10 passengers and has a speed of 215 m.p.h. Carpenter and Co. also have good ground equipment in New Guinea and several of their machines, including a new six-passenger Gannet just built in Australia, could be used for the service.

It will be interesting to note which com pany, if either, gets the contract. It is known that several members of the Com monwealth Government would look with disfavour upon any air link between Aus tralia and New Guinea using foreign ’planes. They are of opinion that this service is a necessary adjunct to Aus tralia’s defence and viewed in that light it would be unwise to subsidise a service that did not operate with Australian or British machines.