Palmerston Must be in Airways Route

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 195, 20 August 1935, Page 7

Palmerston Must be in Airways Route

All-New Zealand Protest Against

Exclusion

Transport Co-ordination Board Hears Evidence

(Special to

“Times.”)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 19,

oiic-leuth of tho population of New Zealand.

The question oil whether Palmerston North will bo included in the route of Great Pacific Airways in their proposed Auckland - Dunedin passenger and air mail service was again before the Transport Co-orindation Board today. In July the Board announced their decision that Palmerston North bo excluded from the route of the Pacific Airways in view of the fact that it was the northern terminal of the Union Airways iuter-Island mail service from Palmerston North to Dunedin. Protests were at once made by a number of local body authorities and business committees and u formal application was made by Aviation Development, Limited, on behalf of the Great Pacific Airways for an amendment to the license granted to Pacific Airways.

Another argument submitted by Dr. Neale in support of Palmerston’s inclusion was that it would enable passengers from Auckland to connect there with the Wcllington-Napicr express. Wellington ’ s Argument

Mr. J. O’Shea, Wellington City Solicitor, said that the bodies and people lie represented were acting solely in the public interest and with a view to getting efficiency in transport. If the trunk route did not include Palmerston North it would bo mutilated; it would be financially ham-strung. The whole east coast from the Last Cape to Eketahuna would be excluded from the benefits of the trunk line. Palmerston North was Ibe natural junction. If a subsidy had to bo found the people who contributed should be consulted as to tho service. This was where Wellington came iu. The considerations, should bo national. AN here did the Wellington taxpayers come in? If they wanted to go to Palmerston by air they would go via Blenheim and return the same way. Business men would probably go by land service. That applies to those wanting to link up with services going to the Last Coast. It might suit tourists or trippers. It would not suit business men. Questions for Board. Why was Palmerston North excluded from the main route? No sufficient explanation had been given, either by the board or tho Union Company. What public interest was served by cutting out Palmerston North? Did not this set up a minor monopoly for Union Airways? The only air route between Wellington and Palmerston North would bo by their routes. Could not the mail service bo run to Invercargill and back just as expeditiously from Wellington as from Palmerston?

Sir Stephen Allan presided and with him were Messrs L. Aldcrton and H. B. Johnstone.

A largo number of local authorities are making' representations in favour of the inclusion of Palmerston North, Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth and Wanganui. Lower Hutt are making representations through counsel and other representatives of councils and business interests and from the Last Coast and Hawke’s Bay centres, and districts representations have been received by the Board in writing.

Mr. H. L. O’Leary, for Great Pacific Airways, contended that Palmerston North is an essential port of call in the route of the service, the object of which is to serve tho whole of New Zealand. He referred to representations made by the Union Steamship Co. to tho Board that Palmerston North should bo excluded from the route of Great Pacific Airways as an attempt to cripple the operations of that company.

Palmerston North must be the biggest air travel centre as it is at present the biggest road and rail centre in the North Island.

Was there anything in future transTasman and international aviation that was being anticipated by the board that was not disclosed to the public" So far as mails were concerned should not Wellington have direct connection by air with Palmerston? Should it not ultimately have connection by air through Palmerston with tho Last Coast? Should not these connections be built up gradually with each station and a junction laid out as soon as possible? Mr. O’Shea then dealt in detail with the grounds enunciated by the board for excluding Palmerston North. Ho asked who would travel to Palmerston via Wanganui by air from Wellington. The board had also stated that there would be a more direct service from Wanganui to Wellington, and that there was a better route by following the coast line. That argument, said Mr. O’Shea, was, to say tho least, hard to understand. The loss of time was 15 minutes at most. Palmerston was not subject to mists or adverse climatic conditions. Under ordinary circumstances the aeroplanes would fly over Palmerston, and not via the sea. If tho board had any expert evidence to support its suggestion he would call Wing-Commander Wilkes to repudiate the argument, not to argue against it, but, to contradict it flatly. The board also had staled that Palmerston North, was adequately served. If that were so, there was no need far an air service in New Zealand. The only ground for an air service to-day was speed. Where speed was required an air service was required, and that was so just as much between Wellington and Palmerston North as anywhere in New Zealand. There were fast train services from the north of Auckland to Wellington and from Lyttelton. As they existed, why run a service at all, if a direct service was not necessary between Wellington and Palmerston?

Mr. O’Leary referred to the timetables of the Union and Great Pacific Airways to show that, the two services cater for a different type of passenger and mail load und said that a call at Palmerston North is essential for the connection between Wellington and Hawke’s Bay and the Last Coast areas.

Tho chairman (Sir Stephen Allen) replied that it was strange that the peoplo of Hawke’s Bay should prefer a longer route, with a chango at Palmerstou, to a direct shorter route to Wellington. Mr. O’Leary said that he did not know of proposals for such a service, nor to what extent they had progressed. Frobahly to as great an extent as those of Great Pacific Airways, said the chairman.

The People Must Be Studied Speaking as tho representative of tho New Plymouth Borough Council and tho Taranaki Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Claude Weston, K.C., said they were solely interested in Palmerston North's exclusion. They were not concerned with the rivalries of two competing companies, aud invited tho board to take the national view of the matter and decide what waS really the best service for the people of New Zealand.

The question was whether tho convenience of tho whole people was being studied. What they said was that air facilities existed for the people and the people did not exist for tho facilities. Although ho was unable to place statistics before the board, ho asked the board to believe that there was considerable traffic between New Plymouth and tho East Coast. If Palmerston North was eliminated from tho air route, it meant that air facilities as far as New Plymouth was concerned with respect to Palmerston North were gone. ft would be quite useless for a New Plymouth man to take an aeroplane to Wanganui and then go on by bus or train. From the point of view of New Plymouth pcoplo it was rather difficult to sco why Palmerston North should bo excluded. The exclusion of Palmerston North from the trunk air route was very much the same as ill tho Main Trunk train should go through Palmerston North without stopping. The inclusion of Palmerston North, it was submitted, could not help denying a great deal of air facilities to someone or other.

Palmerston to Wellington, via Blenheim.

"The necessity for direct connection between Palmerston and Wellington, is obvious,” continued counsel. "The board must realise that by cutting out Palmerston North it has told Wellington and Palmerston people that they can exchange visits by air only via Blenheim. In its July decision the board said that Palmerston already has excellent and fast connection with Auckland by rail and with Wellington by rail and road, but if that argument is carried to its logical conclusion it will bo said that air services will not be required at ail between points that 'are well served by rail and road. It is submitted that a call at Palmerston North must be included in answer to a public demand aud the necessity ot giving efficiency to the service.” Case for Union Airways.

Apex to Triangle Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt, said it was felt that Palmerston North was tho apex to the triangle from which the East Coast and the West Coast could bo served. It was considered that the trunk service would not be adequate unless Palmerston North was included. Palmerston North seemed to bo the natural clearing house.

Mr. G. G. G. Watson, for Union Airways, said when the company received the board’s decision it had bought its planes on the assumption that it was to have exclusive passenger rights on its service. Having ordered the machines on (hat basis tho company was entitled to reasonable protection against unnecessary competition. Ho denied the suggestion that Union Airways was trying to freeze out Great Pacific. There was not enough business between Palmerston North and Wellington to justify two services. The hearing will be continued tomorrow.

Auckland’s View Dr, E. P. Neale, secretary of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said that like Mr. Weston he was not concerned with the rivalries between the different companies. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce considered that Palmerston North in its own right on the population basis was entitled to inclusion as a point of call of any air service between Auckland and Invercargill. Tho Auckland Chamber looked upon Palmerston North as a natural junction. The Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa districts, excluding the Palmerston North area, contained one-twelfth of tho total population of New Zealand, and if (he Poverty Bay district was added the districts eontoiapii over.