Cook Is.

French Airways Call At

But NZ Socialist Govt. Puts Tabu on Private Inter-Island Service

WITH the establishment of the new French Pacific service, TRAPAS, (Compagnie Francaise des Trans ports Aeriens du Pacific Sud), Rarotonga has now another overseas airlink.

A public announcement on January 21 stated that arrangements had been made by the NZ Government for aircraft of this company, flying between Noumea and Papeete, to make intermediate calls at Samoa and Aitutaki. The calls at the two latter stations are permitted only on the understanding, however, that they are for non-traffic purposes. These ar rangements are (we hope), temporary until the conclusion of a more definite understanding between the governments of New Zealand and France to traffic rights.

An aircraft of TRAPAS is calling monthly at Aitutaki en route to and from Papeete, and the Cook Islands adminis tration is endeavouring to institute an early postal service between Rarotonga and Tahiti. The establishment of a monthly air mail service between Raro tonga and Makatea Island, has already been announced.

The new Dakota passenger planes now being used by the NZ National Airways on the Pacific Islands circuit, with their comfortable seats, carpets, kitchenettes and other refinements upon the faithful old war-service type, have proved popu lar. Bookings from Rarotonga to NZ con tinue to be heavy and intending passen gers have to book months in advance to ensure a berth. Mails and freight also steadily increase and the planes always work with limit loads.

ALL hopes for a private inter-island air service have been completely quashed by the NZ Government’s decision not to grant licenses to private air enterprise. , The possibilities of an inter-island ser vice for the Cook Islands were stated in an article in “White’s Aviation” last year and appeared, in a condensed form, in the “PIM” in July, 1947. The original article was headed “Here’s an Opportu nity for Two New Zealanders.” “PIM” added: “For two New Zealanders, read two airmen they don’t necessarily have to be Maorilanders.”

The two airmen were quickly forthcom ing and no doubt there would have been others. Immediately following the publication of the articles, the air-minded Rarotonga businessman who first pre sented the plan to “White’s Aviation” received a letter from an enthusiastic young ex-Service airman who was ready and eager to join in such an enterprise.

He had the necessary practical quali fications and some capital. His own faith in the enterprise was such that he had already purchased a “Walrus” am phibian, which, he said, although not the most suitable type, of aircraft for the purpose, would nevertheless do for a be ginning and more suitable types could be added later.

The airman and the businessman were ready to make a start providing that the all-important official permission could be obtained. But, alas for their hopes— the permission was not to be obtained.

Sadly the young airman sold his Walrus, and gave up the dream.

The New Zealander’s first letter was closely followed by another this time from an Australian airman. Here again were all the necessarv elements for en thusiasm, flying experience, capital, and the possibility of obtaining a suitable

plane. Once again the answer had to be •‘nothing doing.”

The advantages to the Cook Islands of such a service hardly need repeating.

Apart from the commercial posibilities, it would be invaluable for administrative purposes, mails and medical emergencies.

If there is ever to be a service it will obviously have to be Government. There may be such a service someday but we fear that it will be a long time.

Mr. Adolf Schultze, who has been a resident of New South Wales for several years, will return shortly to New Ireland.

He will be accompanied by Mrs. Schultze and an English partner, and they will work one of Mr. Schultze’s properties in Southeast New Ireland, near Mr. Alt Priebe’s plantation. Mr. Schultze is an old Territorian. His mother and his grandmother (Mrs. Pheobe Parkinson) died in New Ireland during the Jap oc cupation.

Mr. S. H. Batchelor, formerly manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Suva, and later manager at Sydney, died in Sydney recently. He is survived by his wife.