Australia to Tahiti
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Flying-Boats Run Special Trips
PAPEETE, April 4.
C CARRYING a London Films production ) unit, which is preparing to film the story, “The Marriage of Loti,” a Trans-Oceanic flying-boat, under Captain Brian Monckton, arrived here on April 2, from Sydney, via Noumea and Fiji, and was warmly greeted by the populace.
This was the first plane to come in here flying the Australian flag. Passen gers and crew were lavishly decorated with leis.
The Governor, M. Pierre Maestracci, gave a special dinner in honour of the visitors, and most of our leading citizens were present.
Trans Oceanic Airways are anxious to get permission to run from Sydney to Tahiti, via New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa, with parties of tourists; but the Governor told Captain Monckton that, while special charter trips were in order, and an occasional tourist trip allowed, generally the policy of the Administration was to reserve the air business of French Oceania for French airlines, such as
Trap As.
It is not expected that any such pro tection of airlines is practicable, however.
Parties of tourists, from United States, Australia, and elsewhere, are anxious to visit Tahiti, and may be expected to travel in whatever air and sea craft are available.
The people of Tahiti are anxious to see the Australian planes coming here frequently. Trans Oceanic should take the matter up with the French authorities in Paris.
Trans Oceanic will run another charter trip, Sydney-Tahiti, in April, and a tourist trip in May.
EDITORIAL NOTE: Trans Oceanic are under the disadvantage that, in order to discuss this matter with Paris, they must work through the Australian Government.
And the policy of the Socialist Govern ments of Australia and France is to en courage State-owned lines and knock back private enterprise. Trans Oceanic, for example, are prepared to supply the Pacific Islands with services which are most valuable, in the continued absence of shipping. But they can get no licenses for regular schedules the fana tical Australian Government gives licenses only to Government-owned lines.