nolulu-Papeete Service

approval GIVEN

nolulu-Papeete Service “About September”

►BLOWING lengthy and search

ing construction-and-perform

ance examinations by the US 1 Aviation Administration, South fie Airlines Solent Mk. 11l air t have been accepted, subject to w modifications, as suitable air t to operate a planned Hono ■Papeete air service via jstmas Island. lis was reported by Australian iain Bryan W. Monkton, the cany's operations manager, who in Sydney in March. He, and crew, planned to leave Sydney r May with the second Solent h has been hauled up at Rose ever since the company pur ed it from the now defunct is-Oceanic Airways. In mid l, four new motors were being lied and the Australian registra markings painted out and re ;d with an American flag and letters “N9945F”. ptain Monkton said that apart some structural modifications le aircraft, the principal task to be done before the service tiences will be the establishment ull radio, meteorological, and ing facilities at Christmas

Island. None of these facilities will be provided by any Government agency.

There will also have to be some emergency overnight accommodation for passengers and crew. On present indications it will be another five months before flying can commence —much later than had been hoped.

Captain Monkton said that SPA never had any plans to use Palmyra.

The climate there was wet with frequent low visibility, unlike dry Christmas Island. And Christmas is more suitably placed as a half way point. The company, had, however, considered using land planes at one stage, but Pan Ameri can Airways had a prior applica tion for such a service to Bora Bora and that company strongly opposed a SPA land-plane application. Con versely, the French authorities were strongly in favour of a flying-boat service right in to Papeete and had given SPA backing in Washington in favour of their application for the flying-boat service.

It was not yet decided just how many passengers would be carried but fares were calculated at 11 cents per mile.

Capt. Monkton was able to ex plain why, about a year ago, a de tachment of Gilbertese police were despatched in great haste and secrecy from Tarawa to Christmas aboard a GEIC Government vessel, under a European officer. The United States has always claimed at least

equal rights with Britain—as at Canton —in Christmas Island. The Robert Dollar Co., which is financi ally backing SPA, decided to send a retired American sea captain down to Christmas to thoroughly investi gate what ground facilities would have to be established there. He was to remain on the island as a local representative. Evidently the British authorities got the idea that he was going to hoist the American flag.

He was met on the beach by the British police detachment when he came ashore from a small vessel, and told that he could not remain.

Captain Monkton said that while the British authorities have not actively opposed SPA’s plans, they have given absolutely no co-opera tion or assistance. British airline in terests were probably not pleased to see SPA entering that route.

II Mr. and Mrs. Fr an k Exon, formerly of Suva, arrived in Sydney from Europe early in April. After completing a lengthy term as Fiji manager of Amalgamated Wireless Ltd., Mr. Exon decided to spend long leave abroad —mainly in Eng land —and he now expects that he will spend several months at head quarters in Sydney before going on to his next posting. Their elder daughter, Elizabeth (now Mrs.

Cottee) is a resident of Brisbane; and their younger daughter, Jocelyn, has just announced her engagement to Mr. Neil Gow, of Brisbane.