TRUNK AIR SERVICE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 8 March 1935, Page 4

TRUNK AIR SERVICE

restricted national route PALMERSTON NORTH TO DUNEDIN FEDERATED CLUB’S VIEWS. Some aspects of the situation following upon the Transport' Co-ordination Board’s recent announcement- that, .in its opinion, the most- important- national air service route would be between Palmerston North and Dunedin, were touched upon at yesterday’s meeting in Hawera of the general committee of the Western Federated (North Island) Flying Club , on receipt of a. letter from the New Plymouth Airport Board expressing “a feeling of alarm and disappointment,” A resolution was passed that in the opinion of the federation, the trunk route should extend from Auckland to Dunedin, The Airport Board, in its letter, protested strongly against a restricted route such as the one mentioned as being considered for the establishment of a national trunk route to serve both islands of the Dominion. It was hoped that tho policy of the Government would be such as to givo st rvice to the whole of the Dominion, particularly-making available this,fast means of transport to the whole of the people and districts from Auckland to Invercargill. In view of the very largo amount of money which was >cing spent by tho Government on. the development- of aerodromes throughout the Dominion, it was unthinkable to imagine that in the granting of a national trunk route it was intended' to use only one aerodrome in the North Island,- which would bo at Palmerston North, and ignoring, other important and populous towns and areas. It was impossible, from a, national utility point of view, to run feeder services to a point such as Palmerston North when places such as New Plymouth and Auckland, both districts covering approximately one-third of the population, would be relegated to the minoi positions of a feeder service. The clis'tributioii of mails from Auckland should also have a* largo bearing on tho Question of a trunk scrv ico commencing at that city.

EXTENDED SERVICE DESIRABLE

; Mr A. S. Burgess (Wanganui), [.resident of the federation, said that the chairman of the Transport Co-ordina-tion Board (Sir Stephen Allen) stated definitely that it was likely a trunk service license between Palmerston North and lmneJin would be granted. Wanganui local bodies had passed resolutions of protest and he understood that the same had been done in New Plymouth. It remained for. the feder;<Lioir to determine whether it would also raise- a vojco in protest. Personally, lie thought that from a national point of view the trunk service should extend from one end of the island to the other. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce and the Wanganui City Council had both appointed representatives to go into the position and support the establishment of a through service from Auckland and the Wanganui Development League was also likely to assist. Representa-tions--had been-made to the Wanganui and Waitotara County Connells. The Wanganui Aero Club had so far clone nothing, believing it be a matter more for commercial organisations than, for aviation clubs,. where interference in matters outside their common jurisdiction might result m a “back iash” from the Government. The Transport Board would havo to admit that aero clubs have some knowledge of the position for they liave paved! the way, said Mr, A. 11.I 1 . Sandford (New Plymouth). Di- W. F. Buist (Hawera) reminded the president that in his annual report he congrlit ul a ted the federation on having kept clear of commercial aviation and confining its activities to pilot instruction. ■ „ ~, The federation secretary (.Mr o. i~ Nielson) said it seemedHthat the board bv its announcement, had developed into a railway protectiqn board rather than to co-ordinate transport services. Tile chairman: Undoubtedly Air W. G. Walklev (Hawera): \Vliether we like co-ordination or not the grant in" of transport licenses is going to prevent that fierce competition which, until recently, : rendered our r o acl services so uneconomic*

WELLINGTON ELIMINATED. It was proposed to eliminate Wellington from the service, said Mr Nielson. He considered representations should be made to* have the through route from Auckland to Invercargill. Mr J. R. Franklin (Wanganui) : It would be a great pity to restrict the services.

Licensing services would have the effect of reducing insupportable competition, said Mr Walkley. The road transport service licenses had enabled some at least to make a living from the road. If any service were able to start right away it should get tlic job. Mr Nielson: There arc two services in the field, the Union. Company, and olio■ which I represent. The latter is one the late Mr Charles Him was interested in. There would be no possibility of any service beginning before December.

“I understand from a high Government official that there are only two suitable grounds',” said Mr Burgees. “They arc Wigram and Blenheim. I think.you will agree, Mr Walkley, that the service should extend to Auckland, the population centre of New Zealand.” “I understand from newspaper reports that the two companies proposing a service between Auckland and Dunedin both have no assured capita! at present and that the 'Palmerston Nor.th-Duncdin service has capital assured,’.’ said Mr Walkley. SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY “That is wrong,” said Mr Nielson. “The company I represent does not intend to issue shares to the public at all and the capital will ho immediately available. Me should' take the broad view in the interests of aviation in New Zealand. To leave out Auckland and the west coast from the trunk service would be a short-sighted policy. Mr Walkley: You cay your capital

is fixed. Is it Australian capital? Mr Nielson: Yes. “I don’t think that comes in,” said Mr Burgess. “The first consideration should ho a- trunk service between Auckland and Invercargill. We should really be glad,” ho added, “that the capital is Australian, for the service is bound to lose money for a while.” t “I am in favour of New Zealand capital,” declared Mr Walkley. ‘The Matson Shipping Company is a- golden example of what can happen. We had a shipping company to be proud of and yet a new . company is supported by the people of New Zealand.'’ On the motion of the chairman it was resolved that in tlie opinion of tlm federation the trunk route should extend from Auckland to Dunedin, with stops at the larger centres en route. Other members present- vere Mr it. Syme (Hawera). the pilot-instructor (Flying-JOfficer lan Keith) and the ground engineer, (Mr A. Salter), PASSENGER CHARGES.

The secretary reported in connection with the Transport Licensing (Commercial Aircraft Services) Act that the Transport Co-ordination Board had fixed the minimum passenger charges as follows: One passenger machine, £3 per TOO miles; two-passenger machine, £3 10s per 100 miles; three and four-passenger machines, £3 15s per 100‘ miles,; all fares to be calculated on the .total return distance. It was pointed out by the secretary that the charge for a one-passenger machine with a speed of 75 miles per hour worked out at not very much more than £2 an hour, which was uneconomic when the clubs themselves were unable to operate ’planes under £2 os per hour at the lowest, the clubs receiving tho free use of Government machines which did not cost them anything to purchase. Other machines which the clubs had purchased were bought out of art union monies and they were not under any charge for interest- pn tho capital cost- of any of these machines. All the clubs obtained a Government subsidy which was not available to the commercial operator. Portion, of tho salary of the instructor who did most of the commercial work was being paid for instructing pupils and the ordinary business of the club and therefore the whole of his salary would not be chargpd against operating costs for ’commercial work Talcing all theso concessions, subsidies and other benegts into consideration, the clubs would have to operate at a considerable loss. It was impossible to do any dying at the rate of £2 per hour and for any one operator to show a reasonable profit The chairman of the hoard stated definitely that he would: not agree to the original prices which were submitted, as the board did not consider they were reasonable. * The charges were adopted, the chairman remarking that apparently the federation had no option to do otherwise. .

FUNDS FROM ART UNIONS. In reference to aero clubs) participating iu tlie distribution of q/rt union proceeds, the secretary reported that the policy of Cabinet definitely was that the benefits of art unionfs were to go mainly to those institutions providing services of a charitable and philan-. thropic nature and which, in normal times, were dependent oil contributions from the charitably disposed members of the community. From the very full explanation given him} by the Minister, the secretary felt certain that it was not possible to obtain any funds in this direction at the (present time. , ; In reply to. the New Zealand Aero Club’s request that weather reports be made available to pilots by telegraph, the Director-General of the Post and Telegraph Department replied that aviators were permitted to lodge’ at 'any telegraph office telegrams addressed to postmasters .seeking information as to tlie state of the weather. A uniform charge of Is nas made for each message, which chaige included the reply, or 2s for any urgent message. In this connection tlie Otago club wrote suggesting that alternative arrangements might be made for the postmaster to advise the aerodrome so that the staff could he made aware that a ’plane was due to ainve. The Auckland club also wrote suggesting tliat- weather reports might bo made available by toll calls at halt was decided to request the department to grant aviators the privilege of both telegraph and' toll service for weather reports.

. PILOTS’ EASTER CAMPS. It was* resolved that a plane be made available for the pilot- members Easter camp'to be held at New I lymouth at the charge of £1 5s P cr hour for competition ana display works. —. , t Referring to the recent North island pageant at Masterton the chairman said that west coast pilots were deserving of the federation’s congratulations on their success. It was decided that three planes be allowed to attend the forthcoming pageant at Nelson.