Island Services

Rnzaf Still Runs

TRANSFER of control of the Island air services from RNZAF to the NZ National Airways Corporation will be delayed about one month. It was ex pected that the change-over would be made about the beginning of September.

Delay is due, principally, to the diffi culty of having the service aircraft (Dakotas, Lodestars and Sunderlands) converted to civil aviation requirements, and issued with certificates of airworthi ness. Lodestars and Dakotas are being converted in Australia. Work on the Sunderlands is undertaken at Hobsonville near Auckland.

In the meantime, Dakota services from Auckland to Norfolk Island, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Cook Islands and the Sunder land service to Suva, are being carried on by No. 40 (Transport) Squadron, RNZAF, as usual.

The extent to which New Zealand pro poses to take charge of civil aviation in Fiji is indicated by a recent advertise ment calling for applications for the fol lowing positions:— Area Controller at Nadi, £585 p.a.

Senior Control Officer at Nadi. £535.

Control Officers at Nadi, Nausori and Laucala Bay, £485.

Assistant Control Officers at Nadi and Laucala Bay. £435.

Watch supervisor at Nadi, £435.

Watchkeepers at Nadi, £4OO.

Location allowances of from £145 to £l7O are to be paid to men in Fiji, with further allowances for wives and child ren.

It is reported that since the New Zea land civil aviation took over Nadi air port, in March last, conditions there have considerably improved. Until then, trans pacific travellers, pausing there for a night’s rest, were given most primitive and comfortless accommodation.