MT. COOK CO. ATTACKS AIRLINE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30498, 21 July 1964, Page 3

MT. COOK CO. ATTACKS AIRLINE

(N Z. Press Association) TIMARU, July 20. The published plans of South. Pacific Airlines of New Zealand to endeavour to serve South Island tourist ■ points*, were criticised today by Mr H. R. 'Wigley, managing- . director of the Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company.

“According to their advertised intentions, S.PA.N.Z. plan to ‘concentrate on services into the tourist centres of both islands* if and when

they are granted the right to operate DC6B airliners between Auckland and Wellington and Christchurch,” Mr Wigley said. “It is obvious the proposed move by S.P.A:N.Z. is a further attempt by this An-sett-inspired company to become entrenched in New Zealand’s transport system, and my company, which is a wholly New Zealand-owned organisation, will resist such a step as far as it possibly can.

“New Zealanders must be allowed to develop their country in their own way. Outside .influence such as that shown by Mr Ansett, of Australia, quite possibly could be detrimental to this country for it might well favour Aus-

tralian interests more than those we already have in this country,” said Mr Wigley. “1 am very concerned at the possible encroachment on services ,in the South Island which my company has pioneered. “In recent years we have built our own DC3-standard Strips at Mount Cook, Glencairn (near the Ohau river), and at Manapouri as part of a plan to serve the tourist route between Christchurch and Te Anau. “The construction of these strips and the provision of a radio network was done at a considerable cost. In the early stages, the company sustained losses, .hoping that in due course' its pioneering work would show a profit

“My company is well satisfied that the services it plans are as frequent as the present traffic density will allow,” Mr Wigley said.

“A close watch will be maintained, however, and we will cope with the demand as it rises from time to time.”

Mr Wigley contended that the introduction of DC6B aircraft on the main trunk route would be a retrograde step and harmful to the tourist industry. The National Airways Corporation had two fine aircraft types in the Viscount and Friendship, and it would be an affront to overseas tourists to ask them to fly in the quite old pistonengined DC6.