AIR FREIGHT SERVICE

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25735, 22 February 1949, Page 6

AIR FREIGHT SERVICE

REINSTATEMENT REQUESTED CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING A decision to seek the reinstatement of the National Airways Corporation air freight service was reached by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce at a meeting yesterday. A request for at least two air freighters a week, was included in a resolution to be passed on to the corporation. The support of the Minister in charge of the Air Department (Mr F. Jones) was also sought in the form of a motion asking for his approval of contract rates for freight over a certain quantity and a reduction of rates to make them comparable, to those in Australia at some later date. The air freight service was cancelled last November after a statement by the Minister that the service had run at a great loss. Comparisons of freight charges with those of Australian services were given by Mr J. R. Dench. From Sydney to Melbourne (about 400 miles) the charge was 61d per lb; for the 485 miles from Auckland to Westport it was Is. From Melbourne to Brisbane the rate was Sid, and in New Zealand for a similar distance, from Kaitai to Invercargill, the rate was Is 7d. Special rebates varying from 10 per cent, to 33 1-3 per cent were also granted on a sliding scale on freights from 100 to 10001 b. Referring to the cancellation of the service, Mr D. S. Dott said this might be a lack of vision in the official mind. A company expected that it might have to lose money for a start. If the service had been controlled by a private company, it would not have been withdrawn so suddenly. Christchurch and Dunedin had supported the service very well, said Mr A. R. Guthrey, but the trouble had been that very little freight had been coming from the North Island. A greater number of parcels was sent from the North Island than from the South, which showed that the potentiality was there. He was convinced that if the rates were improved, although they would still be higher than those in Australia, the service would pay. Mr W. R. Harris, of National Airways Corporation, said it would be reasonable to ask for three freighters a week. Publicity for the service would also be given once the Government had approved the contract rates for freight. Publicity had been prepared before while the Minister’s approval of the contract rates had been awaited. It was obvious that the various trades wanted the service resumed, said the chairman (Mr A. Henderson). It was decided that chambers of commerce throughout the country be asked to give the request their full support.