Midland-Pioneer to be based here

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33252, 15 June 1973, Page 15

Midland-Pioneer to be based here

Midland Coachlines, Ltd. has taken up a 12.1 per cent shareholdingin Pioneer Midland, Ltd. a joint venture with Ansett-Pioneer, the lours and road passenger division of Ansett Transport Industries. Ltd, of Australia.

The new company, which! was foreshadowed in Mid-1 land’s half-yearly report, will 1 be based in Christchurch. Mr| Don Harris, until recently operations manager for] Ansett-Pioneer in New Southj Wales, will be manager. Ansett-Pioneer’s shareholding in the joint venture is also 421 per cent, and! Atlantic and Pacific Travel; (Auckland), Ltd. is a partner to the extent of 15 per cent of the capital. A. and P. Travel is a large tourist agency and tours wholesaler operating in Aus-; tralia. New Zealand and : beyond. “The experience, expertise; and established sales outlets of the three companies provide a substantial foundation on which to build Pioneer Midland,” says Mr Laugesen, the chairman of Midland Coachlines. “New tour packages have been designed for tours to and within both islands of New Zealand, and will be

I released this month for operations beginning in 'October. First-class accomjmodation will be a feature of these quality tours. ! “Midland coaches, bearing 'the Pioneer Midland emblem, will provide luxury ground travel throughout New Zealand, and air travel will be ! used to link the North and ’South Islands.” Mr Laugesen says that Ansett-Pioneer is an acknowledged leader in the tours field in Australia, and that its valuable experience in the ’marketing field is expected to boost considerably the number of visitors to New ’Zealand. “Each year its large fleet of air - conditioned coaches carries more than half a million passengers on tours and express services throughout Australia.” , Midland and Ansett-Pioneer already have important links in common. They are the only operators in their respective countries for the i vast Gray Line sightseeing j organisation of America, which is now represented 'in every country in the iworld. Mr Laugesen says that the ■ new company appreciates that, although there are other tour operators in the field,

r there is room for a company t such as Pioneer Midland—- • particularly in view of the ? increasing number of Australians who wish to visit New ?, Zealand. Midland, with terminals at .1 Auckland. Christchurch and - Dunedin, has been established for many years, and 1 today has one of the largest fleets of luxury coaches in t the country. In addition to - supplying a number of the s major tour promoters with t coaches for their proe grammes. Midland also runs jla number of half-day. onee day and two-day sightseeing v tours from Auckland and f, Christchurch. s