Townsville’S Six-Inch

Waves

TOA’s Moresby Plan is Suspended

BECAUSE of a curious and unexpected development, the inauguration of the Sydney-Port Moresby service by Trans Oceanic Airways has not been pro ceeded with. The Australian Department of Civil Aviation placed such restrictions upon the use of Townsville port as a place of call for flyingboats that TOA had to temporarily suspend its plans.

TOA made a survey flight, Sydney- Brisbane-Townsville-Moresby, and return, at the end of October. DCA gave the company, on this occasion, permission to use Townsville. Everything ran quite satisfactorily, and the regular service was to commence immediately.

Then TOA were officially advised that they could not land at Townsville if the waters at Townsville carried waves more than six inches high. Such ripples are common in Townsville —so Townsville was out.

TOA considered Bowen and Cairns: but marine and radio facilities, necessary if a port is to be used regularly by flying boats, are not installed in those places.

The planes could not carry enough petrol to fly from Brisbane to Moresby, and carry also an economic pay-load.

Argument about the use of Townsville by flying-boats is proceeding—with vigour. Meanwhile, TOA’s Moresby plan

is suspended.

Mrs. H. Searle, of Port Moresby was a visitor to Melbourne for the spring racing season.