Seaplanes Proposed 25 Years

Ago

NOW that the Pacific Islands Terri tories are being linked by an ever growing criss-cross of plane services, it is interesting to learn that 28 years ago (in February, 1920) a plan for the introduction of sea-planes to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, for the use of admin istration officials, was under serious con sideration.

We have received from Mr. Neville Chatfield, now Managing Director of the Australasian Transport & Shipping Agency, Sydney, copies of correspondence which took place early in 1920 and which indicate that between 1920 and 1922 the purchase of planes was very seriously con sidered by Mr. McClure (Resident Com missioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands). Mr. Chatfield. who then had interests in the Gilbert and Ellice Colony, was instrumental in getting quotations from the Australian Aircraft & Engineer ing Co. Ltd., who offered to supply Mr.

McClure with 552-type sea-planes, com plete with Hispano engines, for £2,100 each, FOB Sydney.

Nothing further came of the plan how ever—not because it-was not possible to carry on communications between the

Islands by sea-plane, but because the safe maintenance of sea-planes in the Islands under the conditions ruling at that time was a problem beyond solution.