Noumea-Sydney

Anger in N. Caledonia Noumea-Sydney Air Services Cancelled

From a Noumea Correspondent Consternation was can:

here in mid-December at

announcement that Qantas s

vices between New Caledo

and Sydney would cease al

December 31, because of

breakdown in French-Austral

aviation talks.

PEOPLE who have contempla holidaying in Sydney have 1 their plans dashed; IS Hebridean children now holiday from school will find it hard to back to school again.

Before the last jam-packed ph had pulled out travel agents 1 booked other Australian-bound p sengers by TAI services to Nadi Auckland, connecting with Austral bound aircraft there—a night to spent in either of these places ' fore connections are made. Cost this trip is at least double that the direct fare.

Qantas has plenty of sympai and many friends in New Caledo: but as decisions are made in Pe the sympathy is not likely to be much help.

Nevertheless, the local Pr seems to be building up an ar Australian campaign on the question.

Why Not Status Quo?

The man in the street cannot why the status quo could not lu been maintained pending furtl negotiations, but as it is, N Caledonia has been set back 20 ye: in her communications with Ai tralia.

Nothing has been done for 1 future, although the Terrih Assembly has approved a suggest] by Mr. Lenormand that N Caledonia form a company a charter aircraft for its own serv between Noumea and Sydney. It v possible under present internatio] regulations, he said.

See “Air Transport Faces Vital Perio page 41.