Another Trans-Tasman

Air-service?

IT has already been hinted in New Zea land that with non-Labour govern ments now in office on both sides of the Tasman, another trans-Tasman air service may be permitted. At present, Tasman Empire Airways (owned jointly by the New Zealand, Australian and UK governments) has a monopoly of this route. This airline was taken over some years ago by the Socialist governments concerned after it had been pioneered by private enterprise.

There are three airlines now operating across the Pacific from Australia and/or New Zealand to the Pacific coast of North America (British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Pan American Airways and Canadian Pacific Airlines). The logical route from North America is to Fiji, New Zealand and then across the Tasman to Sydney. But the Socialist owners of TEAL were so hell-bent in keeping the Tasman route a close preserve that they would not permit the trans-Pacific air lines (even government-owned BCPA) to be logical. Instead, Auckland was made the terminal of a sort of branch line from Fiji and this made it necessary for both PAA and BCPA to run special services from this point. CPA did not enter this field.

Will the new Governments correct this anomaly? Before making any wild guesses it is as well to remember that for the year ending March 31, 1949, TEAL had lost money at the rate of £A4,000 per week.

This demanding infant is now the respon sibility of the new governments (UK has only a 20 per cent, interest) and it is unlikely that they will do anything that will put finances any further into red ink. What they should do, however, with out delay is to make a searching investi gation into the mounting losses of govern ment-owned airlines generally.

Travellers between Australia and the North Island of NZ are probably well enough served. But travellers from Aus tralia to NZ’s South Island are still left lamenting. If there is need for a new NZ-Australia air-service then first priority should go to a service between Australia and Christchurch which has the best po tential airport in the Dominion. Although New Zealand is very small in comparison with Australia, its internal transport by

road, rail or air is much more difficult owing to the fact that a large part of NZ is built in the perpendicular and because the country is neatly divided into two main parts by Cook Strait.

A few years ago Australian National Airways Pty., Ltd., offered to start a new air service between Melbourne and Christ church. The Labour governments then in office were not interested.

Ansett Wants to Run a Service IT was announced on January 12 that Ansett Airways, a large Australian air company, has applied to the governments of Australia and New Zea land to operate an air service between Melbourne and Christchurch.

The managing director of the company said that Skymasters could be secured for the service without dollar expendi ture.

It is believed that applications to run a new trans-Tasman air-service will not stop at this one and that other companies will be in the running. The manager of ANA has announced that his company applied for a similar permit two years ago.

Reorganisation of NZNAC

IT has been stated in Australia, un officially, that the New Zealand National Airways Corporation is to be re-organised as a partially privately owned airline company. This is un scrambling the eggs with a vengeance.

The NZNAC took over internal routes operated by Union Airways and Pacific regional routes pioneered by the RNZAF.

Last year the Pacific services showed a loss of £21,000.

There should be some interesting de velopments in aviation in the South Pacific in the next 12 months but while the British Commonwealth continues to have dollar problems, it is unlikely that private companies will be given too free a hand.

The Australian Department of External Territories is seeking a medical officer for Nauru Island.

The position will carry a salary of £1,200 to £1,400 taxfree.

Preference will be given to doctors with experience in tropical medicine and hos pital administration.

The above group represents those who were present at the launching. From left to right they are: Mrs. Mullins, Mr. Pugh, Mr. Lionel Bentley, Captain Mullins (Commodore), Lady Hedstrom. the Governor (Sir Brian Freestone), Lady Freestone, Sir Maynard Hedstrom (Trustee), Mr. M. A.

Bentley (Hon. Life Member), Mr. Alf Lee (vice-Commodore) and Mr. E. Harness (Rear Commodore).