RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29173, 6 April 1960, Page 27

RANDOM REMINDER

ROUND THE BENDS

Air travel today solves many problems, with its speed and comfort. Even when the flying schedule is interrupted, the business is handled on the ground so smoothly that the pain is lessened. A voice of clinical calm will announce that it is regretted that it has been necessary to cancel flight 999, and announce it in the firmly authoritative yet kindly tones of the matron of a maternity home. So that it does not seem to be so important to be where one wanted to go, after all. Take the case of a Wel-

lington businessman who recently arranged to fly to Auckland for an important conference. The conference was scheduled to begin at 10.30 a.m, and the traveller’s Viscount ticket assured him of being in Auckland very soon after the meeting began. Or so he thought But he did not fly to Auckland direct by Viscount. An unfortunate sequence of events—probably something to do with the weather required him to board a Douglas Dakota. Then he was taken on the sort of tour more suitable for an American tourist with more dollars than time,

but who is determined to “do” the country. First there was a quick look at Marlborough sounds, and then the aircraft, rather reluctantly, turned north. But it went to Wanganui, and from there to Gisborne, and on to Tauranga before going on to Auckland.

So the businessman was five and a half hours late for his conference, and that did not please him. But his first thought, that he could claim a refund on his ticket, was tempered by the sobering proposition that he might well be charged more for the amount of ground which had been covered.