For Fiji

Internal Air Services

THE internal air services which Fiji has wanted for so lone: are to be provided bv Fiii Airwavs. newly es tablished by Mr. Harold Gattv, MLC.

Through the several Trans-Pacific ser vices which call at Nadi, and the Qantas, NZ National Airways and TEA services, which call at Nadi and Suva. Fiii is in very freauent air communication with New Zealand. Australia and North Ameri ca. But the internal air services are poor.

It takes almost as long to get from Nadi to Suva as from Sydney to Nadi.

The Fiii Government, through a com mittee of leading citizens, has been trying to induce various air interests to under take an internal service, based on Govern ment subsidy; but, while manv were interested, none could bridge the gap between what the Government could pay, and what the onerators demanded.

Finally, a plan was submitted bv Mr.

Gattv, famous airman and business or ganiser, who has settled down in Fi.ii and become a member of the Legislative Council. Acceptance of his offer means that the local services can be run at a cost to Government of little more than is now represented by subsidising the Suva- Labasa service.

Fiii Airways will use the airfield at Nausori. ten miles from Suva. In August, a de Havilland Rapide will run. probablv three times a week, between Nausori and Nadi. A de Havilland Drover (a sturdy 3-engined, 8-seater craft, which can fly on any two engines) will be brought into use soon, when it is planned to give a three-times-weekly service between Suva and Labasa. If conditions warrant, ser vices will be provided to Drasa (near Lautoka), Savu Savu (western end of Vanua Levu) and the big island of Taveuni .