AIR SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 168, 12 April 1935, Page 13

AIR SERVICES

Two Trunk Licenses Granted BOARD’S DECISION Union and Great Pacific Companies Licenses for trunk air services within the Dominion have been granted by the Transport Co-ordination Board to Union Airways of New Zealand Ltd. (the Union Steamship Company) and Great Pacific Airways (N.Z.) Ltd. iMr. T. S. Withers). The application of New Zealand Airways Ltd. has been refused. In announcing its decision yesterday the board reviewed the applications in detail, explaining that the Union Steamship Company desired to begin a daily service between Palmerston North and Dunedin, operating by the end of September; that Air. Withers proposed to start with a daily, service between Auckland and Dunedin, via New Plymouth. Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch and Timaru; and that New Zealand Airways Ltd. proposed to run a service extending ultimately between Auckland and Invercargill, with subsidiary routes. Each applicant expressed the hope of obtaining a subsidy, but the board made it clear that such a question was outside its province, and that any service must be carried on independently of any subsidy. f The board held that to permit more than one service over the whole route at the present time would involve wasteful competition, and would cause such loss to competitors as would eventually result in deterioratiou of the services concerned. Aerodrome Equipment. Referring to the equipment of aerodromes, the board observes that much work has yet to be done before services can be commenced. Work on some aerodromes is progressing, however, and by the time services are ready to start it is- believed that several will be sufficiently advanced for use. “The evidence of local authorities and public bodies entirely disregarded the condition of aerodromes, except to indicate the perfection of Rongotai, but we venture to say it is a question on which the witnesses should not remain apathetic, because though licenses may be granted the actual flying to any point cannot begin before the lauding ground has a real margin of safety in all weathers for the machines to be used,” the board states. “As to the route to be followed, these witnesses were all in favour of the long route, but with one exception no thought bad been given to the exact course to be followed and only one of these witnesses was able to indicate the places at which calls should be made. The one exception was the Hon. J. McLeod, to whose evidence we attach weight and who has long been connected with aviation in New Zealand. Mr. McLeod thought the route should be Auckland- New Ply-mouth-Palmerston North-Christchureh-Dunediii. lie would eliminate Wellington. where he does not consider Hying conditions are possible for the trunk service at present.” Carriage of Mails. As regards the carriage of mails the board reports that the view of the Post Office is that the service intended to be provided between Palmerston North — Christchurch —Dunedin by the Union Steam Ship Company is the only one that interests the department. “The Post Office maintains that letters are usually written during the day, and posted at the end of business hours in the afternoon,” the board adds. “For such letters, the existing mail service between Auckland and Wellington and between Wellington and Christchurch is all that can be desired; because the letters between these places are posted in the evening and arrive at their destination by the following morning. Letters posted in Auckland for the South Island, or those from the South Island for Auckland, will reach their destination quicker by air between Palmerston North and Christchurch, and transhipment to or from the train at Palmerston North, than by keeping the letters overnight at Auckland or Christchurch as the case may be, und then taking them the whole distance by air. “A simple analysis of the times of arrival and departure will demonstrate the soundness of this conclusion. As to passengers, however, quite different considerations apply, and if a passenger desires to make his journey as quickly as possible, his transit will be much more rapid by air, and the long distance flight is therefore preferable. All the evidence at our disposal agrees that night-flying is still not possible in New Zealand with any safety. While still discussing the question of mails, we ought to note the possible future importance of New Plymouth as a mall centre, if it becomes the landing point of a trans-Tasman service. New Zealand Control. "While it is a matter not specifically mentioned in the Act, we are convinced that the control of any company undertaking a trunk service within New Zealand ought to remain in New Zealand. We should have preferred the two rival applicants to have joined forces, and so have established a strong company to carry on the service. With this end in view, we brought the parties together for negotiations, which, unfortunately were not successful, and it seems impossible for more to be done in this direction. “Taking all the factors into consideration, we have come to the conclusion that some service beyond that which is proposed by the Union Steam Ship Company is desirable. It is true their service could be extended at a later date, and it is likely also that whatever applicant is granted a license the entire service cannot be commenced from the outset. We feel, however, that the Union Steam Ship Company’s proposal, in its initial stages, is not quite sufficient, because except by feeder services it is out of direct touch with half the population of the country and particularly the two largest centres. Its aim is primarily to be a mail service, and many difficulties are involved in its future extension.

“The main service must be one that can fly from Auckland as far south as possible. Treated as a service only from Palmerston North to Christchurch or Dunedin, the Union Steam Ship Company’s proposal is a valuable one, and we see no objection to a license being Issued to it for this particular route —in addition to the main license which must go elsewhere —and thus

both passengers and mails will bo adequately provided for. British Machines.

“We propose therefore to grant a license to Air. Withers’s intended company, upon its incorporation, the precise terms of the license to be stated later. Mr. Withers must satisfy the board that the control of his company is in New Zealand. The machines to be used must be of British manufacture and of a type to be approved by the board. The service will in the first place be on the route proposed by the applicant from Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, but subject to the remarks hereinafter made. The company must be incorporated and in a position to receive a license at a date which the board will fix after discussion with Air. Withers; and the date of commencement of the service and other incidental points will then be arranged. “The Union Steam Ship Company, if it so desires, may have a license on similar terms for the route Palmerston North-Christchurch-Dunedin. It may be that under these circumstances Palmerston North will be sufficiently provided for by the Union Steam Ship Company without being made a. calling place for the Great Pacific Airways. This can be settled later. Landing Grounds.

“The state of the aerodromes on each route is an important factor affecting all the applications before us. It may happen that services licensed by us will be ready to operate before the landing grounds proposed to be used are fit for the purpose. We have asked for a report to be furnished to us on the state of these grounds, and when it is ready we shall be in a position to say which grounds can be used at once. An inter-departmental committee is at work on the matter, and the information collected by it will be of great value and will guide us in allowing or refusing the use of any ground. Until we know any aerodrome is in a safe and proper condition its use will not be permitted and the license will not include it.

“finally we mention the third applicant, N.Z. Airways Ltd. This company has already done some flying, especially in the south, and is entitled to consideration in other directions. It applied for a license to cover certain auxiliary routes, as well as for the main service, and for a license for a taxiservice also. We adjourn the application as regards these other routes and the taxi service, to enable the company to lodge an amended application for any service that may now be open it.’!