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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1419.PDF
482 FLIGHT. MAY II, 1939 COMMERCIAL AVIATION NEW ZEALAND SCENE : One of Union Airways' D.P.86s over Marlborough Sounds, with the entrance to Tory Channel, Cook Strait, and the North Island in the background. At the moment Union Airways fly 86s from Auckland to Gisborne, Napier, Palmerston North, Blenheim and Christchurch. The company's Lockheed Electras are used for the through services, and, with the 86s, for the long-distance service between Auckland and Dunedin. This machine is flying on the Dunedin service. THE WEEK AT CROYDON "A. Viator's" Transport Commentary : Selling Time : Officialdom Rampant : Using the North Sea Service : High-speed Luncheons A HABIT which is spreading amongst big business houses is the charter of transport aeroplanes to start at the hirer's convenience rather than at the scheduled times. The special charter of the larger machines is expensive, of course, but time is such a valu able thing in really big business that almost any outlay of money to buy time is sometimes justified. Actually, the air transport companies sell time and I commend the idea to publicity chiefs if they have not already used it. All you need is a poster with a clock face, the name of the company and the legend, "We sell time. Like to buy a few otherwise unobtainable hours— or days? Last week one of the very big London firms, with large interests in Holland also, had a K.L.M. D.C.3 standing by at Croydon until their board meeting in London had taken place, after which the board flew to Holland fo» a further meeting, utilising the two hours of the journey to consume a specially ordered lunch. Everything was arranged in advance, down to the necessary wines and liqueurs. In this way the passengers could go into con ference immediately on arrival in Holland and certain members of the board could return to England again for dinner. An aeroplane would, in fact, be a magnificent meeting place for diplomats or for the Secret Service. The usual eavesdropper who hangs head down by his heels from the gutter and listens through the windows at all S.S. meet ings—and then sells th« information thus obtained to the highest bidder, foreign government or Daily Snoop— would have what they call a rough ride if such meetings were held at eight or ten thousand feet. Lady Louis Mountbatten arrived at Croydon during the week by K.L.M. from Australia, bringing a couple cf young wallabies with her. Some doubt existed in the minds of officials in Holland whether these animals, like dogs and parrots, had to have a licence before they could be landed in this country, so they very wisely sent a wire less message, "two dogs on board." It is best to be en the safe side with Agriculture and Fisheries, for there's nothing those gents enjoy so much as prosecuting an air traffic company because some passenger sneaks a small dog into the country hidden under a fur coat. I hear that they make it a public holiday in the departments and issue pork pies and bottled beer to all hands, so that they can all come into Court and bring their lunch and have a good hearty gloat. Highly efficient show is Agriculture and Fisheries, and the combination of the two is what gave us the blessings of fish manure on arable land. And, anyway, look at this country's agricultural policy. Grow a large potato, or for that matter a small one, and the Egg Marketing Board will have your life's blood. The American Ambassador in Paris, Mr. W. C. Bullit (every bullit has its billet, if I may say so) arrived by Air France the other day to attend the Royal party at the American Embassy. He was met at Croydon by Mr. Joseph Kennedy, Junr., son of the American Ambassador here. Junior was doing his first official diplomatic job, I am told.
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