Rivalry for air service licence

Press, 9 August 1976, Page 7

Rivalry for air service licence

The Air Service Licensing Authority at a hearing in Christchurch on Wednesday, reserved its decision on an application by Rural Management, Ltd, to run an amphibian air service between Invercargill and Stewart Island. The Christchurch company sought a licence to use amphibian aircraft for the 20minute flights, to provide a scheduled service, and to finance a public runway on property owned by a Stewart Islander. Mr J. G. Rutherford, a Christchurch solicitor, who with his wife owns the company, made it clear that he was not interested in real estate developments on the Island. He already had projects in the North Island and South Island. The application was objected to by Stewart Island Air Services, Ltd, which has

;an application before the i authority to provide a seven- '< day-a-week, unscheduled air ; service using a nine-seat • Britten-Norman Islander. With about 7000 passengers ■ a year to be carried only one . licence should be granted, ' said its chairman of directors • (Mr W. G. Broughton). He • said his company would proi vide a private airstrip at Ryan • Creek and be responsible for • its maintenance. t The chairman of the authority (Mr J. H. O. Tiller) aci cepted the need for urgency ► in view of Mount Cook’s im- ■ pending withdrawal of its > Stewart Island service, but I sought final submissions in i writing from the two com- ■ panies before the week-end. 1 He said there was no question about the need for an air ■ link to Stewart Island. But I there was room for only one ; firm