Qantas Plans Announced

New Pacific Air

Services

INTERESTING development of the Qantas Air Services, connecting Sydney with the Pacific Islands Groups in the South-west Pacific, are being planned, according to an official announcement on October 15.

At present, Qantas operate two regular services: (a) from Sydney to Lae (New Guinea) via Queensland and Port Moresby; (b) from Sydney to Fiji, via New Caledonia.

It is proposed to extend the New Guinea service from Lae to Rabaul, in November.

It is proposed, also, to operate a service for the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands, which lie in a continuous chain between New Caledonia and New Brit ain.

It is proposed, in addition, to connect the Australian services with the impor tant phosphate islands of Nauru and Ocean, which lie some 700 miles NE of the Solomons, fairly close to the Gilberts.

No details have been given.

These air services would be of ines timable value to the residents of the Territories named. But, if they are to be made economic, the Governments of Australia (controlling New Guinea and Nauru) and of Britain (New Hebrides, Solomons, Fiji, Ocean Island) will have to do much more than at present to assist private enterprise and encourage production in planting, mining, shelling, etc., in their respective Territories.