“GUNNING FOR T.E.A.L.”

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29316, 22 September 1960, Page 14

“GUNNING FOR T.E.A.L.”

Progress League

Member

He was “gunning for Tasman Empire Airways," Mr A. W. Hyndman told members of the Canterbury Progress League last evening. Mr Hyndman recounted how his wife recently wanted to fly to Australia, but was told there was no seat available on a plane leaving Christchurch. However, she could get any seat on any plane leaving Auckland.

His wife was forced because of time to travel to Auckland and leave from there, “but the day she had wanted to leave from Christchurch there were 13 other people at the airport with tickets in their hands who could not get on the plane,” Mr Hyndman said.

Mr Hyndman also made a complaint about a woman tourist from San Francisco on a round-the-world tour who had been told that she must leave New Zealand from her point of entry. Auckland, instead of Wellington, as she wished, or else pay £9 as the cost of the fare from Wellington to Auckland. Who would have got that £9? When he inquired. nobody knew, he said. She had, after "calling T.E.A.L. for everything,” gone back to Auckland, refusing to pay £9 to anyone, Mr Hyndman said.

“These things happen because T.E.A.L. has a monopoly, and as long as tt has a monopoly, they are going to continue.” said Mr Hyndman.

“American tourists won’t stand for this sort of nonsense,” he said. “If this is going to happen, we may as well kiss our tourists good-bye." It was decided to pursue the matter with Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., and write seeking “certain information.”