Air France For

Tahiti

To End Irritation Caused By Broken Promises

From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, March 20.

Dissatisfaction is being expressed

in Papeete regarding failure of TRAP AS Airline to fulfil its obliga tion to provide Tahiti with a regular monthly service. The non-arrival of planes from New Caledonia, with Euro pean mails, causes great inconvenience to the general public, and falls particularly heavy on local merchants, who report inconvenience and loss of business there from, TRAPAS benefits by a monthly subsidy of 100,000 francs from the Tahiti Govern ment, granted on the express condition that it maintains a regular service to Papeete. Not only did it fail to make its February visit to the Colony, but there is little prospect that it will be able to do so in March.

In Defence of TRAPAS

PAPEETE, March 25.

SEVERAL statements have been made in rebuttal of the criticism of TRAPAS. It is claimed that the trouble is not due to TRAPAS, the local Aero Club, or Government. In the course of a public statement, M. J. Arbelot, General Secretary of the Aero Club of Oceania, said: “The excessive censure of TRAPAS is unjustified. Certainly TRAPAS promised us a regular service.

But promises, which have not been ful filled, were also made to TRAPAS. Where are the three Catalina planes which were to be placed at the disposition of TRAPAS by the end of 1949?

“As to our Aero Club being accused of lack of initiative and negligence during three long years, such charges are not justified by facts. At all times the club has been vigilant in its efforts to pro mote aerial transportation, not only by correspondence and interviews with Gov ernment officials, but even to the extent of an endeavour by its members, as late ss December, to purchase a bimotor hydroplane for local use.”

Following an interview with Gover nor Anziani, an announcement was made that the Club had purchased a hydro plane.

New Service Announced

NOW comes the official announcement that Air France will make its long anticipated survey visit to Bora Bora on March 28. Among its 23 passengers will be Vice-Admiral Nomy, Inspector of Aeronvale; Monsieur Thouvenot, Director of Aerial Transportation; Representatives of the Governor-General of Indo-China and New Caledonia; Officials of Air France; journalists and photographers.

Transportation of the party between Bora Bora and Papeete will be by TRAPAS airplane to arrive a little earlier. Governor and Madame Anziani, accompanied by military and civilian re presentatives, will welcome the visitors at Bora Bora.

SYDNEY, Apl. 20.—Owing to unsatis factory survey flight, Air France service has been postponed until August.

TRAPAS is suspended indefinitely.

TO assist local school committees with the construction or extension 6f primary schools, £lO,OOO has been made available for the current year under Fiji’s Revised Development Plan.

Strict conditions govern the type of accommodation which must be provided if financial assistance is granted.