Palmerston and the Air Routes

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 196, 21 August 1935, Page 5

Palmerston and the Air Routes

WELLINGTON, Last Night. The hearing of the application of Aviation Development, Ltd., on behalf of Great Pacific Airways for an amendment of tho license granted the latter company for the Aucklaiul-Dunedin air service to permit of a call at Palmerston North was concluded by the Transport Co-ordination Board this afternoon, when decision was reserved.

During the course of the afternoon the Town Clerk of Wellington (Mr. E. P. Norman) was asked by the chairman, Sir Stephen Allen, if he saw any objection to a service direct from Napier to Wellington. Mr. Norman: If there is going to be a multiplicity of services none of them will pay. I would prefer to see one service made an absolute certainty. Feeder routes could lie added as required. Palmerston North, continued Mr. Norman, would have the advantage of being also tho junction with Union Airways. The position might be different if Union Airways machines called at Wellington. If it was later shown that there was room for a

Napier Wellington service it could come, but the Wellington City Council would not like to sec the equilibrium of the main company upset by the in : auguration of services before they were warranted.

Commercial Interests. Air. P. E. Pattrick read a statement setting out. the opinion of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. The view held by that body, he said, was that every facility should be given for nor mal co-ordination of air, rail, and road services, and to promote that all important railway and road service junctions should also be made air-service junctions. To prohibit the AucklandDtmediu trunk air service from picking up and setting down passengers at so important a railway junction as Palmerston North would be highly inconvenient. to such of the public as desired to make convenient use of both services. There was a close commercial relationship between Wellington and Palmerston North. They shared the same seaport; many important Wellington .business houses had branches at Palmerston North, and vice versa. To deny to those cities the benefit of the direct air communication offered by the Auckland-Wellington trunk service appeared to the Wellington Chamber to be a serious handicap to future trade relations. Tho community of interest and density of population approaching 00,000 people or more in the Wellington - Manawatu - Rangitikci-Wanganui-Tfawkc’s Bay area appeared to the Wellington Chamber to demaqd that the fullest possible use be made of a centrally-situated junction such as Palmerston North for co-ordination of all forms of passenger and goods traffic.

A Central Pivot. It was therefore felt, that the deletion of Palmerston North from the route of any main trunk air service connecting Auckland with Wellington and the South Island centres would be a serious mistake, because such a vita! omission would tend to make Wellington inefficient, as a. main airport or merely a minor airport, in a trunk service for tiie reason that Palmerston North must of necessity develop into a central pivot of the transport services of the North Island by air, rail, and. road.

Director's Evidence. Wing-Commander 'l'. .'l. Wilkes, I,'.rector of Air Services and Controller of Civil Aviation, said there was no denying that (be exclusion of Palmerston North would make for a more direct route, but it was not necessary to have that direct route. The actual deviation from Wanganui to Palmerston North would mean twenty minutes iu tho elapsed time from Wanganui tu Wellington. Mr. O’Shea (city solicitor): Would that- interfere with the running of a trunk service from Auckland to Duu-| ediu, that is, leaving Auckland in the morning and getting to Dunedin in the afternoon: —No.

Asked for his opinion about Rongotai aerodrome, Wing-Commander Wilkes said that the aerodrome was licensed and he considered it satisfactory. Mr. O’Leary asked witness if should he himself be asked to decide upon a trunk route for New Zealand he would include Palmerston North as a port ot call. Mr. Watson submitted that was the question for the board to answer. Giving his personal opinion, Commander Wilkes said he thought a service in New Zealand at the present moment should service as many centres ab possible. Mr. O’Leary: For a trunk air service such as one leaving Auckland in tho early morning and getting to Dunedin somo time in the afternoon would you include. Palmerston North?—l think I would. _ Mr. O’Leary asked if a call at Palmerston North would result in any appreciable difference in the cost or in time for a trunk route. Commander Wilkes said it would make a. difference of about ten minutes’ flying time and a difference o? about twenty minutes iu the time-table. Ho would not. consider that appreciable. The cost would be about £lO. Mr. O’Leary: And one would expect that would be more than made up by the traffic obtained from Palmerston North? —That is so. Auckland is Definite. Councillor Anderson, representing the Auckland City Council, said that

Some Plain Talking Board Reserves Its Decision (Special to Times.)

his council took up a very dcJinito stand that Palmerston North must bo included iu the main service from Auckland to Dunedin. Auckland, said Councillor Anderson, was the second city in New Zealand and the first city in point of travel for half the people who arrived in the Dominiou arrived at Auckland, and only slightly under half of those who left New Zealand departed from Auckland. Auckland, therefore, was vitally interested in the present developments. It. was obvious that, an air service from Auckland to Dunedin, with a cull at Palmerston North, would give greatly-improved travel facilities. An air service must so cater for the needs of the people that it. would be it success from the commencement, and Auckland would protest in no uncertain way unless there was a cal! at Palmerston North, without which the service must lose much of it-; value rod u t.ilitv.

The decision to exclude Palmerston North was made at a private sitting, continued Councillor Anderson, and tho Auckland City Council took exception to the fact that so important a matter had been decided at a private sitting ami that they had not had an opporunity of stating their views upon the point.

The chairman: What, do vou mean

by a private sitting? An opportunity was given your representatives to give evidence at a previous sitting of the board.

Since the board bad announced its decision to exclude Palmerston North the Auckland City Council had taken a keen interest in that aspect. Unfortunately the Auckland City Council knew nothing of the proposal to exclude Palmerston North until long after its witnesses had returned to Auckland, said Councillor Anderson. The council had thought that at least the board would have listened to evidcuco as to the various points of call before reaching a decision. Replying to Mr. Alderton, Councillor Anderson said that ho had not given particular attention to Ihc question of subsidy, but, ho said. “If thsre is going to be a subsidy then tho 'Auckland City Council will say that Palmerston Nortli should lie included, because tho whole of the Dominion should benefit from any subsidised service..”

Union Airways’ Contentions. Addressing the board on behalf of Union Airways, Mr. G. G. G. Watson submitted that tho matter should be brought back to its true perspective as being a matter dealing with the principal air service throughout New Zealand and not a matter affecting subsidiary services between adjacent towns. Others had advocated that the matter must be reviewed nationally, but he contended that those who had addressed the board had done so from a sectional point of view. It was clear from what the local body and chambers of commerce reports had said that a great deal of the furore that had been raised in regard to the board’s decision was based entirely on a mistaken view’ as to the board’s intentions, namely, that Wellington and Blenheim were going to be left out.

It was curious, contended Mr. Watson, and a matter worthy of strong comment, iu the criticism of the board’s omission of Talmerston North from Great Pacific Airways' calling places, that while various local bodies and chambers of commerce bad protested, allegedly on national grounds, the Palmerston North City Council, which was vitally interested, had not seen fit to raise any objection, nor had the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce.

■Sir Steplicu Allen: 1 think me have a tetter from them.

Some Early History. Mr. Watson submitted that at! sectional interests must be subordinated and tic proceeded to traverse some ot the early history of the mutter. He dealt first with the decisions of the board of April 16 granting licenses to Great Pacific Airways and Union Airwavs. It was plainly stated by the board then that Palmerston North might be excluded from Great Pacific Airways’ calling places. There had been no outcry then Irom the local bodies. Ever since April IS Union Airways had acted with the utmost expedition to carry out the project for which it received a license. The company relied on getting the protection that any other transport organisation was entitled to receive. Its aim was to get on with the job. It had taken all steps possible in regard to the organisation of tho service in New Zealand. The necessary personnel—pilots, ground engineers, and so on —was arranged for and w-as available. Plans and specifications had been prepared for the principal hangars for the company’s machines at Dunedin and Palmerston North. The company had also been prepared at its own expense to erect the administrative block of buildings in Palmerston North, but since then the company had been advised that it was not necessary for it to embark upon that expenditure. Co-operation the Aim. Union Airways, said Mr. Watson, hoped, when and if Great Pacific Airways were incorporated and when their services were in operation, to'co-oper-ate fully with Great Pacific for the fullest development of the aviation services of the Dominion. Mr. O’Leary: It is not easy to cooperate with someone- you have strangled. Mr. Watson said that his company >

/ras, however, anxious that there should aot bo masterful competition, and the fact was that there would not be for sorno years to come enough people travelling by air to warrant two companies picking up and setting down passengers at Palmerston .North. The prevention of wasteful competition was the aim of all traffic regulation and coordination. Air. Watson said that though Air. Withers' company now said that Palmerston North was a crucial point, il was not in tact even mentioned in his or.gimu prospectus. As it was the rouie of Great Pacific Airways included eipnt stops. Palmerston North uoulfl be a ninth, upon a rapid trunk service. The contention of Union Airways, said Air. Watson, was that tlieir service, ihi conjunction with other services, wouid give an adequate service to Wellington and Blenheim citizens. A Proposition. Union Airways Had indicated that it would not object to Great Pacific Airways calling at Palmerston to pick up north-bound passengers or to set down south bound passengers, but not to picu up from Palmerston passengers foi southern points of call. To the board Air. Watson said that that proposal meant that Great Pacific Airways would not bo permitted to pick up passengers for Wellington at Palmerston, for his company contended that through Union and Cook Strait Airways in their regular services and air taxi catered fully and adequately for the Palmerston North-Wellington journey.

Mr. Withers: Would the return crossing, Blenheim to Wellington, bo pro vided free?

The Rival Companies. Cross-examined by Air. O’Leary, Air. C. G. White (Union Airways) said it was not correct to say that on the representations of Union Airways Palmerston North iiad been cut out from Great Pacific Airways’ trunk route. Replying to further questions, Air. White sa.d that Union Airways was interested m Cook Strait Airways apd in Last Coast Airways, but not in Air Travel, Ltd., operating on the West Coast. Air. O’Leary: Wasn’t vonr object in submitting a different schedule of times to block Great Pacific Airways? —No, there was no question about Great Pacific Airways’ time-table. The possibility of East Coast Airways extending to Palmerston North came into the matter. Air. O’Leary: You people at all times have made a great deal of the unsuitabil.ty of Rongotai. Air., White said that Union Airways had been advised definitely by experts that Rongotai at present could not be worked with 12-seater machines. “A great deal of all this,” he added, ‘‘is purely and simply a whispering campaign.” 1

Dn‘whose part? —On the part of those who. wish to discredit Union Air-

’.rays. As long ago as April we wrote to the Wellington Chamber of Commerce stating that we did not .intend to exclude Wellington from our service, and that wo were prepared .to work it as soon as we were advised the port could bo suitably worked. We adopt the same attitude to-day.

You know it is not whispered but openly stated that you condemn Rongotai, and do not want to call here, to

protect your shipping interests?—That is openly said. But if we took 12-pas-seuger machines full from Wellington to Blenheim what would that take away from the ferry servicer

To Mr. O’Shea, Mr. White-said that the strongest holdings in Union Airways and Cook .Strait Airways were those of the Union .Steam Ship Company. In entering into aviation the directors felt that they were merely carrying out the destinies of the company as a transport company. “We will run a service between Palmerston .North and Wellington when the need is there,” said Mr. White, in answer to further questions. The expert advice received by Union Airways was that at present Kongotai was not suitable for 12-seater machines. It Kongotai was suitable it would be used at once, lie had always believed that Auckland must be served by air from Palmerston North, and it was tho intention of Jiis company to undertake an almost certain extension to Auckland when the need arose.

Ktiom for Both Mr T. S. Withers, organiser of Great Pacific Airways, in answer to a question by the chairman, replied that though one company would stand a better chance than two, the board had decided that there should bo two main services, but, irrespective of that, his directors felt that there was room at Palmerston North because in fact there would be no real conflict. Mr Withers said that it was not possible to estimate how- many passengers would be picked up at Palmerston North if both services w§re operating. Formation of Company The chairman asked how far the r-o struction of Great Pacific Airways ha proceeded. .• Withers said that the board had s: . and Great Pacific Airways agreed, to.:, it was desirable control of the ■ company should be in New Zealand. X. ..ns--proposed that at least 60 per cent, of the capital be offered in New 2 ■aland and the board's statement a u entailed a preponderance of New Zealand residents on the directorate. The company was in existence in effect nop, although so far as a developmental company. Before- Great Pacific Airways could be incorporated certain steps had to be taken, and it was considered'that a prerequisite to issuing a - rbspectus was the selection of the Jy of machines. -Sir Stephen Allen; Tho fact of the m er is that although a license has In- ;i ’ promised to you no steps hav/ be taken towards the formation ol : .the company? “Sir,’' replied Mr Withers, “you force me into a position where I am on the defensive. I must, with the greatest respect, say that it is absolutely.

unfair to me and my directors. Air Pislc immediately went to England on thffit license being granted.” His directors had instructed him to inform tho board that they were doing everything possible to inaugurate a national trunk service, but with tho greatest respect to the board they could mot and would not take action or steps Jhat would prejudice the safe inauguration of that servieo. Subsidy Question

Mr Alder.ton: Do you not intend to register this company until you get a satisfactory arrangement with the Government as to a subsidy? Mr Withers said that if the board would like him to register the company lie would do that immediately lie returned to Auckland. Air Alderton: Before you put out a prospectus do you intend approaching the Government for a subsidy? I think so, sir.

Air Alderton: I thank tho step you ought to take is to decide upon a subsidy and approach tho Government tor

Mr Withers said that subsidy proposals were conditional upon operating costs.

Later, after replying to a question from (Sir Stephen Allen, Air Withers said tho public recognised the necessity of a trunk service and they knew it could not be run without a subsidy. Palmerston North the Vital Point In Ins final address to tho board Air O’Leary said that neither at the February nor Alarch sittings of the board was any suggestion made that there should be a reservation of Palmerston North for any company. If any protection was to be given, he contended, it should be given to the main service, and not to what the board Asc-lf had described as primarily a mail service. The two services would clash at Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin, as well as at Palmerston North; and why should the Union Company single out Palmerston North unless it was that it was a vital point, without which the services of Great Pacific Airways would bo crippled. The board had granted Great Pacific Airways a trunk license and later had emasculated it.

On the evidence given by local-body representatives from Auckland to Wellington; said Air O’Leary, it was obvious that there was a public demand for the inclusion of Palmerston North. If it were not included tho only service which could operate would be that of Union Airways, and, as with the exception of one small company in Westland, tho Union Steam Ship Company had a controlling or at least very substantial interest in other services in New Zealand, tho position would bo that tho Union Company would have complete control of aviation in the Dominion.

The Union Company had stated that it was not hostile or obstructive, but its attitude was shown when its repre-sentative-stated that it would seek amended time-tables at Palmerston North, and, continued Air O’Leary, fie was struck by the assurance with which the representative of the Union Steam Ship Company had said that they were going to do this, and possibly, ns the company had been - very successful in past representations to the board, he said so with reason for assurance.

The chairman said that Mr. O'Leary's remark appeared to him to be a reflection upon tho independence of the board.

Mr. O'Leary continued that the board had expressed its disapproval ot statements made that the exclusion of Palmerston North had been decided upon at a private meeting of the board. He accepted that, but he did say that Palmerston North was excluded from the route of Great Pacific Airways not at a public meeting of tho board, which was what was asked for by the Wellington City Council, tho Blenheim Borough Council, and bv Air. Withers.

“I am not reflecting upon the board,” said Air. O’Leary. “1 am stating facts.” Tho exclusion of Wellington from tho Union Airways service and of Palmerston North from tho Great Pacific Airways route would mean that travel from Palmerston to Wellington would have to bo via Blenheim. It had been said that the WeliiDgton-ralmerston traffic would be emergency flying only, but his belief was that that length would carry tho heaviest traffic. It was an essential link to Great Pacific Airways. The concession proposed by Union Airways as to setting ,down and picking up passengers at Palmerston was no concession at all.

Mr. O’Leary, in conclusion, said that ho considered that tho question of subsidy was in fact outsido the province of tho board altogether and should be a matter for discussion with the Government.

Was it a Reflection? The chairman: You made a statement which sounded to me very much like a charge against the board of lack of independence. Mr. O’Leary said that that had not been his intention; what ho had intended to convey was that he had been struck by the manner in which the Union Company representative had stated that the company -would secure an amendment of the time-table. The chairman; You still adhere to tiio statement that you made? Mr. O’Leary: Yes, out it was not a reflection upon the board, but upon the Union Steam Ship Company for assuming that they would get what they were asking for. It was an attack upon the Union Steam Ship Company for their arrogance in the way they put their case to tho board.

Sir Stephen Allen: It was a direct reflection, in my opinion,-upon tho independence of the board. Mr. O’Leary: I had no intention - whatever to make an attack on the independence of the board. Aly attack was upon the Union Steam Ship Com pany for tho arrogant manner in which their statement was made. Replying further to the chairman, Mr. O’Leary said that ho was very sorry if he had given a wrong impression, and Sir Stephen Allen said that he was satisfied with the explanation given. The board reserved its dccision-