Minister Opens Qantas Office In Christchurch

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29962, 25 October 1962, Page 15

Minister Opens Qantas Office In Christchurch

The Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) yesterday officially opened in Chrischurch the southernmost office in the world to be operated by Qantas Empire Airways, Ltd. The occasion, he told about 50 guests, marked an important stage in the development of New Zealand’s policy on international aviation, in the development of air services into the Dominion, and in recognition of the enthusiasm of Christchurch, which had fought for years for greater air services into the city. Mr McAlpine traced the history of the co-operation between New Zealand and Australian governments in the management of Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., and paid tribute to Australia for continuing, at New» Zealand’s request, to hold 50 per cent, of the shares of the company so that the Dominion could run an international airline in days when it did not feel prepared to shoulder the whole financial burden. Last year, he said, both governments had decided that the most sensible thing to do would be for New Zealand to become sole owner of T.E.A.L. and to operate extended services. "As you all know, what we have in mind is not a great, ambitious scheme but a modest operation to the United States and into the Orient, where New Zealand must find new markets.”

Both governments had decided to continue to co-oper-ate in international aviation, he said. The two airlines, said Mr McAlpine, should therefore work together in harmony to develop air services in the region. Immediate Results The immediate results of these developments, he said, had been seen in improved

services across the Tasman, greater availability of seats, and a consequent drop in load factors. “This last development is something which must not go too far. and it must not go on too long,” he added. The expansion of T.E.A.L. to fulfil its destiny as New Zealand's international carrier would provide the real test of the companies’ ability to work together, each independent yet each taking care of the interests of the other. He was confident that the two airlines would pass this test, he said. The chairman of directors of Qantas (Sir Hudson Fysh) earlier said that the airline had offices in Auckland and Wellington, both of which had been successful. Such was the progress being made in the South Island that it had enocunaged Qantas to open its Christchurch premises. Of the 30 offices Qautas operated around the world that in Christchurch was its southernmost. Its opening was an expression of the company's confidence in Christchurch and the South Island. In 1951, when the Christchurch - Melbourne service opened, a DC4 was used for the weekly service, which provided 40 seats. Today seven services a week were operated by T.E.A.L. and Qantas operated around the seats. Sir Hudson Fysh said that all airlines wanted to increase their traffic. This helped to give better service to the people of the countries served, and meant airlines were essential to expanding economies. Such increases could be achieved by increased business and increased tourism. Hotel Accommodation The lowest possible fares and suitable passenger accommodation were needed. In Christchurch there were only 105 first-class hotel rooms with bath and showers. “If you subtract 60 of these for domestic use that leaves 45 for visitors,” he said. This sort of situation was a bar to real progress in air traffic between Christchurch and Australia. Sir Hudson Fyeh sand there was "quite a future” for the transport by air of horses across the Tasman. To gain the maximum publicity for the city, he suggested that a major international horse race be promoted. Guests at the opening of the office, renovated at a cost of £ 16,000, included the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), the chairman of the National Airways Corporation (Sir Leonard Isitt), and representatives of other airline companies and travel agencies.