EL—37.

As the result of a rearrangement of schedules made by air-line companies in October, 1937, together with the extension of Bast Coast Airways' Gisborne-Napier service to Palmerston North, and the running of an additional daily trip on the Auckland-Wellington route, it became possible for through trips to be made between the outer terminal airports in the one day. From 10th January to 20th February, 1938, Union Airways operated a trial feeder service, using one D.H. 84 aircraft, between Palmerston North and Wanganui, but the traffic offering was not sufficient to warrant the continuance of the service. On 31st March, 1938, the route mileage covered by scheduled aircraft services totalled 1,776 miles — an increase for the year of 668 miles —and the following aircraft were engaged : — Three D.H. 86 Express Air Liners. Three Lockheed " Blectra " 10 A's. Four D.H. 89 Dragon Rapides. Two D.H. 84 Dragons. One D.H. 90 Dragon-fly. Two D.H. 83 Fox Moths. Statistics of the activities of scheduled aircraft services appear in the Appendices to this report. Non-scheduled Commercial Services. Each of the companies referred to above, and aero clubs, are licensed to operate a taxi service to any part of the Dominion in addition to their normal activities. The undermentioned companies also undertake commercial flying : — Waikato Aviation Co., Ltd., with headquarters at Rotorua, undertakes air taxi work and sight-seeing tours over the thermal district, using one Desoutter aircraft. New Zealand Aerial Mapping, Ltd., Hastings, undertakes air taxi work, but its primary function is air photography and survey work. During the six months ended 31st March, 1938, this company flew 97 hours on survey work and photographed an area of 1,026 square miles. The company has one Monospar aircraft. Southland Airways, Ltd., Invercargill, operates one D.H. 80a aircraft and caters for the carriage of freight in addition to air taxi work. International Aircraft Services. Pan-American Airways. On 4th April, 1937, the Pan-American Airways flving-boat " Samoan Clipper " departed from Auckland on the return portion of the first survey flight over the route Honolulu - Kingman ReefPago Pago - Auckland. The second survey flight to New Zealand was made in December, 1937, the " Samoan Clipper " arriving in Auckland on 26th December. The proposed bi-weekly service commenced with the departure of the clipper for Honolulu on 29th December, carrying 25,034 letters (353J lb.). The return southern trip unfortuna,tely ended in disaster a short distance from Pago Pago on the 11th January, 1938, and Captain E. Musick and his entire crew lost their lives. No further flights have since been made, and the service will not be resumed until the company obtains delivery of aircraft at present under construction. Im-perial Airways. Coincident with the second flight of Pan-American Airways boat, Imperial Airways, Ltd., carried out a survey flight along the England - Australia - New Zealand Empire route. The flight by the Empire cla.ss flying-boat " Centaurus," commanded by a New-Zealander, Captain J. W. Burgess, commenced on 3rd December and terminated with the crossing of the Tasman on 27th December. The flight between Sydney and Auckland occupied nine hours fifteen minutes. Whilst in New Zealand the " Centaurus " visited the ports of Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin, and left from Auckland for Sydney on 10th January, the time taken for the journey being ten hours. Private and Club Flying. Aero Clubs. On 31st March, 1938, there were eleven " approved " aero clubs and one unapproved club (Waikato Aero Club) offering training facilities for pilots. The Waikato Club was formed on sth December, 1937, by the secession of the Waikato Branch of the Auckland Aero Club from the parent body. The new club took over three aircraft from, the Auckland Club. In addition to the clubs referred to above, there are approximately twenty-five clubs without their own training facilities, but which are affiliated to one or other of the eleven " approved " clubs for training purposes.

7