N.Z. Operator Opposes Ansett Tours Proposal

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29791, 6 April 1962, Page 10

N.Z. Operator Opposes Ansett Tours Proposal

(From Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU, April 5.

“If S.P.A.N.Z.-Ansett succeeds in obtaining concessions from the Government to operate the proposed package tours of New Zealand, they will by-pass practically a’l the New Zealand operators and effectively get round the intentions of the Air Services Licensing Authority.” said the managing-dir-ector of the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company, Mr H. R. Wigley, today. Concern at the efforts by the two companies “to get politically what they were unable to secure through the authority.” was expressed by Mr Wigley in a telegram to the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine.) He told the Minister that the tapping of the Australian tourist potential by Ansett low-cost package tours could only be done at the expense of T.E.A.L.. N.A.C., the Mount Cook Company, and other wholly-New Zealand operators whose combined efforts to sell in Australia were now “bearing fruit.” Mr Wigley said in his telegram that the Mount Cook Company’s DC-3 airline from Christchurch served Cromwell and Alexandra, and that with co-ordination and the co-operation of N.A.C. it would be possible to fill other gaps the S.P.A.N.Z. fail-

ure would leave. He also expressed the hope that all New Zealand operators would have the opportunity to state their case before any concessions were granted to S.P.A.N.Z.-An.sett.

Mr Wigley told “The Press” that much had been heard about the difficulties of S.P.A.N.Z.. but there was considerably more behind the stream of “newspaper propaganda” circulated by that company than met the eye. S.P.A.N.Z. was 49 per cent, owned by the very powerful Ansett organisation of Australia. which for all practical purposes, was in control of the company, and was using it to achieve a long-standing ambition to secure a foothold in New Zealand. “The S.P.A.N.Z. - Ansett combine can only tap the Australian tourist potential at the expense of existing long-established New Zealand operators, for it is most unlikely that they can do much more to promote traffic than is already being done.” Mr Wigley said. Of particular importance was the fact that a large part of the revenue which S.P.A.N.Z. - Ansett would receive would remain in Australia, while practically all of it would come to New Zealand if New Zealand companies were handling the traffic.

“Is there any assurance that S.P.A.N.Z. will continue to run uneconomic services to smaller centres in New Zealand if it is successful in getting a greater share of the trunk route traffic?" asked Mr Wigley, referring to a statement by Mr R. R. Walker, of Ansett Transport Industries. that it was hoped to integrate the proposed tours with transport and accommodation facilities already available.

Mr Wigley said it was obvious that this traffic would not be directed to local operators. It was also clear that Mr Walker was not going to generate more tourist trade to New Zealand.