POST-WAR AIR TRAVEL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 4

POST-WAR AIR TRAVEL

New Zealand Prospects

Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, February 15.

Daily services on all inland routes and the rapid development of many new services to cater essentially for overseas tourist traffic in the immediate post-war period were envisaged by Captain J. C. Mercer, managing-director of Air Travel (N.Z.). Limited, who returned from Australia by Tasman flying-boat. The purpose of Captain Mercer's Australian visit was to investigate methods employed in operating overland services and to discuss with officials, there the development of tourist traffic between the Commonwealth and New Zealand. New Zealand had more scenic attractions in 400 miles than any other country could offer in 4000 miles, said Cup-, tain Mercer, but comparatively few of them had been exploited so far. Road travel in many parts of the country was so slow that the average overseas traveller could not spare the time to see the whole of this scenic wonderland. It must Be realized that the aeroplane was to become a necessity if it was hoped to entice greater numbers of tourists to the country.

“Two years after the war or as soon as machines can be obtained,” Captain Mercer continued, “I anticipate that there will be daily services on all the established inland routes and on many which have not yet been started. “'When tourists and business people alike come from Sydney to Auckland in six or seven hours they will seek immediate connexions with rapid transport services to whatever part of the Dominion they intend to visit. That fact is realized today by air service operators, who will lose no time in extending their routes and arranging connexions with overseas flying-boats.”