Pacific Airlines

Pan American Already Moving

fIIHERE are indications that the Paci- X. fic Islands Territories are going to get the benefit of trans-Pacific air services at an early date; but the posi tion at the moment is uncertain and nebulous because of obvious jockeying for position between British and United States aviation companies.

British-Australian-New Zealand avia tion interests have been urging alterna tive plans for trans-Pacific services upon the Australian-NZ-Canadian-British Gov ernments; but the politicians have been dithering around with these plans, for many months, in the most remarkable and exasperating way. Apparently, they cannot agree among themselves; and — although they must know it is impossible —they still hope to keep out the Ameri can services.

In accordance with their promise, given six months ago, Pan American Airways apparently are going to commence a trans-Pacific service in February. At the present moment, one of their big planes is engaged on a survey flight from San Francisco to Auckland and Sydney, via Canton Island, Noumea and Suva.

Aboard is Mr. Harold Gatty, manager of PAA’s South Pacific organisation. He expects to make his headquarters in Suva at an early date.

Pan American Airways want to run a service from USA to terminate in Aus tralia, instead of resuming the old ser vice, which terminated —so to speak, in mid-air—in Auckland.

British interests, however, are trying

to bargain. If the American airlines are to have facilities in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia, the British want similar facilities in Hawaii and the Western States.

There is no reason whatever why there should be any friction between British and American interests. The future of the Pacific is virtually in their hands.

It would be for the benefit of all the Pacific Territories that both British and Americans should run trans-Pacific air lines—and that is how it will all be arranged, in the end.

An Anglo-American conference, in which these differences respecting air lines are being ironed out, is now pro ceeding in Bermuda.

What is Southern Cross Airways?

ALTHOUGH it now seems certain that Pan-American Airways will re commence their trans-Pacific ser vice about February, the Australian and New Zealand Governments are still not talking. “Vague as ever” is how they were described in “White’s Aviation,” a New Zealand magazine. White's com ment: “Although NZ Defence Minister savs that arrangements have been made for an air-mail connection, apparently no one knows just how the mail is going to the US at nresent. Maybe it is via Japan and the Alaska route —maybe.

There is no regular US air service to Auckland, according to Whenuaoai ob servers. but a C47 poos in from Tontorta, New Caledonia, about once a week, bearing the strange device ‘South ern Cross Airwavs.’ Now what would that be? The whimsical humour of airmen? Is it named after the original pioneering Southern Cross? This stray may take our mail oart wav to US — or would it be carried via Lancastrian and over the Atlantic?”