URGENT NEED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 285, 1 December 1936, Page 9

URGENT NEED.

TRUNK AIR LINE.

AUCKLAND-DUNEDIN.

ONE-DAY LINK WANTED.

ISOLATION OF NORTH.

In the opinion of a conference held this morning of widely representative Auckland interests the provision of a one-day air service from Auckland to Dunedin is urgently needed. A resolution was unanimously passed urging the Government and Union Airways to institute such a. service.

The conference was convened by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and was held in the council rooms of the chamber, the president, Mr. A. A. Ross presiding. Members of the chamber were present and also the Hon. Eliot R, Davis, M.L.C., Mr. W. T. Anderton, M.P. for Eden, and a number of suburban mayors.

The full text of the resolution, which was moved by Sir. W. R. Fee and seconded by Mr. Davis, was as under: "That the ' provision of a one-dav through air service from Auckland to Dunedin is of paramount importance, and that the Government and Union Airways be respectfully urged with all possible expedition to take such steps as are necessary to achieve this object, either by an extension of the existing service from Palmerston North to Auckland or by the provision of a connecting service between Auckland and Palmerston Xortli." Sympathy of Government. Mr. Anderton assured the conference that the Government had under consideration travel by air. and that the claims of Auckland would be dealt with faithfully. The progress of air services in New Zealand, said Mr. Fee, in introducing his resolution, had been slow in comparison with other countries, but about two years ago interest had developed, and services had been inaugurated -but not in Auckland. It was hard to understand why a city the size of Auckland had been overlooked.

In the past Auckland had not had to seek recognition in matters of national importance, but in this instance the time had come when the city, should make its claims felt. "Auckland should no longer lag behind the rest of the Dominion," Mr. Fee said, and added that the Chamber of Commerce wanted the help of the representatives present at the conference to press the claims of the city. It was strange, he remarked, that when the service had been inaugtirated from Palmerston North no provision had been made for an extension to the North. An Auckland to Wellington service would justify its existence. Not a Political Matter. "A one-day through service from Auckland to Dunedin is an urgent neces«itv," Mr. Fee continued. "We want an air service which will extend to us the privileges enjoyed by the rest of New Zealand. This is not a political matter," he said. ' "It is a question which concerns the dignity and the standing of Auckland." A trains-Pacific sendee was spoken of, he said, "which would make Auckland its terminus. Apparently the importance of the city as an airport was receiving greater attention outside of the Dominion than within it. The only amendment necessary to the southern time-table would be a Postponement of the departure of the southern 'plane from Palmerston North by about two Jiours. The 'plane could leave Auckland between 8 and 5.30 a.m., and would reach Dunedin by 3 p.m. instead of 1 p.m. The time-table to the north would not need to be changed. If there were difficulties in the way ot a through service, then the conference should ask for a connecting service between Auckland and Palmerston North It was obvious that Auckland should not be so isolated, commented the Hon. E. R. Davis, in seconding. If the matter were properly represented to the Government and "to the company, questions could be asked which would be unanswerable. The demand for the service was pressing, and he could not understand why it was not met. The question is one of paramount importance," Mr. Davis said, "and should be taken up without delay. - ' Support From Dunedin. Mr. A. G. Lunn said that if the service were inaugurated, the company would reap the benefit. "Our efforts would be supported from the Dunedin end," Mr. J. Hislop. "Tourists coming to New Zealand with Auckland as the first port ot call would be able to see the whole of New Zealand's tourist charms, and those charms include the South Island. For that reason the South Island would support Auckland's representations." Mr. N. B. Spencer: You will have to convince the Minister of Railways. Every passenger from Auckland to Palmerston North by air means one lost to the railways. <_ The company was not subsidised, Mr. B. H. Kingston said, and therefore the chamber could not presume to dictate its policy. As far as the railways were concerned, said Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, Mayor of Devonport, the existing air service passed over railway lines in the South Island which could not be said to be paying. If the metropolitan area was to advance, he added, then the air service should be extended to the thickly populated areas. "I think the request of the chamber is reasonable," said Mr. Anderton. He assured the chamber that the Government would give Auckland consideration when air services came under review, and added, "I think that what is needed is for the chamber to make representations to the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple). It is more a matter of transport than of an air service."

The Government, said Mr. Anderton, would give Auckland a service in accordance with its size and importance.

On the motion of Mr. Lnnn, it was decided that the resolution be sent to the Minister of Transport, to the local members (included among whom is the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage), to the Minister of Railways, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, and to the Dune:liu Chamber of Commerce.