BY AIR TO MOUNT COOK

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 32, 7 February 1935, Page 13

BY AIR TO MOUNT COOK

REQUEST FOR MONOPOLY

protection: for invest-

MENT

Claiming the right to protection be-1 cause of the capital it has invested in road services between Timaru and, Mount Cook, the Mount Cook Tourist Company yesterday afternoon asked the Transport Co-prdinatiori Board for the sole right to carry passengers byl air to and from the Hermitage, Mount Cook. The company applied for ■an , air-taxi licence. . i The application was heard by Sir Stephen Allen (chairman), and Messrs. H. B. S. Johnstone and Lisle Alderton., Mr. W. J. Sim (Christchurch) ap-1 peared for the company. I Mr. Sim submitted that the company should have a monopoly over air transport- to the Hermitage to protect the transport services it had established on the roads. The company had sunk about £30,000 ..in leased- property at the Hermitage and if it were forced out of business the taxpayers would have to pay over £20,000 as compensation. The company also asked for the right to carry passengers between the Hermitage and Queenstown, but did riot suggestrthat it should have a monopoly there The managing director of the company (Mr. R.L.-Wigley) said that the company was not in a- position to" stand any competition where transport to the Hermitage: was concerned. "I did not intend to! ask'any .questions, but if this monopoly joke that has been : sprung, en us is going to be considered by the board I want to examine Mr. Wigley," said Mr. >J. P. Ward, who appeared 'on behalf . .of New Zealand Airways, Ltd. The suggestion, he said, was about the most ridiculous he had ever heard put up to a judicial body. In reply .to questions, Mr. Wigley said he did not want other companies to start regular services in opposition to his own. Mr. Ward: You have a. licensed house there and are obliged to 'provide accommodation for anyone that is prepared to pay for it. Mr. Wigley: We do not want you to run regular services in opposition to our services. Mr. Ward: Yet yours is the only accommodation house there. Mr. Wigley: There "are "plenty of tussocks. Mr. Waru: .They, could sleep in-.the tussocks. Is that what you' rhean? Mr. Wigley: Yes, there are plenty of tussocks. The application was adjourned to enable the'applicant company to submit evidence regarding fares.