AIR ROUTES

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 10

AIR ROUTES

PROPOSED SERVICES

LICENCES REQUIRED

FOUR APPLICATIONS

Four companies applied to the Transport Co-ordination Board this morning for licences to conduct air services over lengthy routes in New Zealand, the applications being heard together. Further applications covering branch routes will be heard by the board later. The applications are being heard by Sir Stephen Allen (chairman) and Messrs. H. B. S. Johnstone and Lisle Alderton.

The applications heard this morning were made by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand for and on behalf of National Airways of New Zealand, Ltd. (Wellington), for a trunk route between Palmerston North arid Dunedin, with calls at Blenheim and Christchurch; by Mr. S. E. Nielson for and on behalf of New Zealand Airlines Ltd..(New Plymouth), for a service between Auckland and Invercargill- by Mr. T, S. Withers for and on behalf of Dominion Airways, Ltd. (Auckland), for services between Auckland and Dunedin, via New »mouth, and Auckland and Nelson, via the East Coast, with calls at Rotorua, Gisborne, Hastings, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Blenheim, Christchurch, and Timaru, in addition to the other centres mentioned; and by New Zealand Airways, Ltd. (Dunedin), for services as follows:—(a) Auckland to Invercargill, (b) Wellington-Hokitika-Cromwell; (c) Timaru-Cromwell-Dunedin; (d) Inver-cargill-Stewart Island; (c) AucklandWhangarei; and (f) an air taxi service.

When the first application was called Mr. C. G. White, who represented the Union Steam Ship Company, put the managing director of the company (Mr. N. S. Falla) in the box to give evidence regarding the company's proposals. ■

SHIPPING COMPANY PROPOSAL.

Mr. Falla said that the prospect of his company entering the aviation field dated back to 1913, when the company was re-formed. The company had had the advice of experts, including Squad-ron-Leader M. C. McGregor, who would be in the service of the company if the licence were granted. Air services in New Zealand would have to be developed, and the company was aiming at a short, strong trunk which could be served by branches. He estimated that the cost of the short trunk service with good machines, radio beacons, and ground equipment, would be about £100,000. The service would co-ordinate with the overnight train from Auckland to Palmerston North. Palmerston North could also be fed from Taranaki and the East Coast. The short trunk gave ample opportunity for other companies to arrange feeder services, and -would be of value to the progress of aviation throughout ■New Zealand as a whole. If the licence were granted an expert would go straight to England to secure machines, and the service would be inaugurated without delay. .

The Chairman: You propose, to use British machines? ■ : '.-•-.-.

Mr. Falla said that the machines had not been definitely decided on, but it was proposed that they should be British, that they should have more than: one engine, and an ample.reserve of power. •..: Machines carrying from eight to ten passengers were* proposed. - In.reply to Mr. J. P.' -Ward, representing New Zealand Airways, Mr. Falla said that National Airways of New Zealand, Ltd., existed in name only. His company wished to carry on its aerial .activities under a name other than that used for its shipping activities, and was applying for the licence accordingly. :

In reply to Mr. W. J. Sim, representing the Mount Cook Motor Company, he said that the trunk line proposed could be fed by air taxis from Mount Cook. -

The company did not propose to call at Wellington, Mr. Falla, said. The Wellington connection south would be by feeder to Blenheim. •

Mr. S. E. Nielson: What is your reason for omitting Wellington?

Mr. Falla: We would avoid the risks of weather at Rongotai.

Mr. Nielson: If Rongotai were improved would you consider calling there?

Mr. Falla: We think the best way to travel by air from Wellington is to slip over to Blenheim and join the trunk'line there.-

MR. ULM'S SCHEME.

The next application heard was that of New Zealand Airlines, Ltd., for a route between Auckland and Inverqargill.

Mr. Nielson, who appeared, said that a great deal of preliminary work in New Zealand had been. done by the late Mr. C. T. P. Ulm, and a plan was about to be launched when-he was lost at sea about two months ago. Mr. Ulm had applied for a national service, and had it not been for his untimely end he would have been present to submit a plan for the whole of New Zealand.

Mr. Nielson said, he had been requested by Great Pacific Airways and Mr. Ulm's interests to ask for the postponement of consideration of the licences so that the. data collected by Mr. Ulm could be presented in support of the application. Mr. Ulm had recommended a national service for New Zealand so that it could be used for defence. ' .

Mr. Nielson contended that air services could not be established without subsidies, and the. Government would not be anxious to subsidise a service if it could not be used for defence.

"If the applicants will not operatewithout subsidies what is the .use of granting licences?" the chairman asked.

Mr. Nielson said he was instructed to ask for an adjournment until June." The chairman said that the board proposed to hear the other applications hefore considering the request for an adjournment.

To Mr. C. G. White, Mr. Nielson said that New Zealand Airlines was not yet registered, but it would draw most of its capital from Great Pacific Airways, an Australian company with a large capital.

Mr. T. S. Withers also asked for an adjournment, and stressed the importance of air services as a part of the defence system of the Dominion. Dominion Airways had done a vast amount of exploration work and had asked for the legislation brought down by the Government. .

(Proceeding.)