AIR SERVICE TO WELLINGTON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27675, 3 June 1955, Page 12

AIR SERVICE TO WELLINGTON

Use Of Heron Planes Urged SAVING OF TIME CLAIMED The claim that the ix: tution of a Harewood-Rongotai service by Herons would cut by half the Christ-church-Wellington travelling time, was. made by Mr W. G. V. Fernie at a meeting of the council of the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr Fernie, a vice-president of the chamber, was commenting on the recent report that a special committee of the National Airways Corporation is to fly to Australia to study the operation of Vickers Viscount planes there. "The corporation has of course to find planes to replace the ageing DC-3’s.” said Mr Fernie. "The report goes on to say that one of the great advantages of the Viscount if introduced into New Zealand, would be that it would cut the present Auck-land-Wellington time in half. “I would like to point out that at present the National Airways Corporation has in use in New Zealand Heron planes which, if used on the Harewood-Rongotai route, could cut the present Christchurch-Wellington time in half. Ever since the arrival of the Herons iri New Zealand this chamber has been pressing for the introduction of this service. "The present time taken from Harewood to Wellington City is three hours. This could be reduced to one and a half hours by the introduction of a Heron service to Rongotai. Tne introduction of such a service would not necessitate the purchase of new ! planes at a cost of £235,000 each, but ; merely a reorganisation of the present schedules.

“It seems obvious that the National Airways Corporation is more concerned with the problematical requirements of three years hence than the present needs of Christchurch businessmen, and the South Island members of the travelling public. “If the service I have suggested were instituted—and it could be done immediately without any capital expenditure—businessmen in Christchurch could leave Harewood at 8 a.m.. be in Wellington city at 9.30 a.m.. leave Wellington city at 5 p.m. and be back at Harewood at 6.30 p.m.: three hours spent in travel, instead of six hours as at present.” he said.

Mr R. C. Neville said the matter was of such urgency that the chamber should, in his view, take the matter up immediately with the National Airways Corporation, without first referring it to the airport committee. This course was later adopted by the council.

Mr R. H. Hill said he had travelled between Wellington and Christchurch on the Heron and he knew something oT the aircraft. “I don’t »think Mr Fernie has got the facts quite right,” he said. At his suggestion the meeting went into committee to hear his comments.