S.P.A.N.Z. Decision ‘Disappointing’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 14

S.P.A.N.Z. Decision ‘Disappointing’

(New Zealand Press Association) MASTERTON, Oct. 17. If the management of S.P.A.N.Z. was able to produce a workable business proposition which would show some signs of success there was' every reason to expect that shareholders and the public would support it, the member of Parliament for Wairarapa (Mr H. V. Donald) said on Saturday.

Mr Donald said he would do all he could to help. He was replying to an article in the “Times-Age” in which the local director of S.P.A.N.Z., Mr J. C. Andrew, had asked what steps Mr Donald was taking to maintain a continuous air service for the Wairarapa. “I share the disappointment which must be felt by the management of S.P.A.N.Z. that the Air Licensing Authority has not agreed to grant S.P.A.N.Z. exclusive rights to Rotorua airport,” Mr Donald said.

“My attitude towards S.P.A.N.Z. was expressed at a widely-attended general meeting of S.P.A.N.Z- in the Masterton Town Hall on October 9 of last year, when I expressed the hope that S.P.A.N.Z. would be able to continue in business, and the belief that S.P.A.N.Z. would be able to service the smaller towns such as Masterton. Oamaru, Alexandra and Gore

more economically than N.A.C. could.

“However, if S.P.A.N.Z. is unable to continue in business it will be quite unfair to shift the blame for its failure on to the National Government,” Mr Donald said.