Off And On Again
p. 28 · Read in the full issue
Pan-American’s Call At New Caledonia From Our Own Correspondent
NOUMEA, March 10.
FOLLOWING representations by thi New Caledonian authorities, witl; French backing, Pan American Ain ways decided, from March 12, to restore a weekly service by DC4’s betwee:; Sydney, New Caledonia and Fiji.
A brief suspension of the service, owim to the use of Boeing Stratocruisers ot the Pacific route —which now by-passe the French Colony because the TontoutJ airport, about 35 miles from Noumea, i not ready for such heavy traffic—hai aroused dismal fears of isolation.
New Caledonia, in the face of mucc criticism for failure to act —as Fiji ha£ done, by working night and day to hav/ Nadi ready for the Boeings, from Marcc I —tardily realised that immediate step? must be taken if Noumea is to resume iti place as a link on the direct route be tween San Francisco and Sydney. Trul;J New Caledonia is a land of laisser fain In the circumstances it is better ths the local population should throw tli blame for such dilatoriness on the Iocs;; administration. The latter is all too fom of “passing the buck” on to the distal metropolitan government. The colony has more than ample warning of Pas American’s intention to introduce til, Stratocruisers on the major Pacific rui