NZ AIR SERVICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 29 November 1945, Page 5

NZ AIR SERVICES

STATE OWNERSHIP BILL PASSED BY HOUSE MEASURE CHALLENGED BY OPPOSITION (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) Wellington, This Day. The New Zealand National Airways’ Bill providing for State ownership and control of the Dominion’s air services, was passed by the House of Representatives, the House sitting until 11.40 p.m. The measure was challenged by the Opposition, which contended that it had not been shown that the existing services were inefficient and that the present companies were no 4 prepared to provide for expansion. The House divided on the motion that the Bill be read a second time, the Government being successful by 41 votes to 31. When the committee stage began, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) said the Bill made one provision and that was for the taking over of the airways of the country. There were about 33 or 34 machinery clauses for doing 'that. The Opposition objected to the taking over of the airways and had registered its objections in the nor. |nal way during the second reading reading. The Opposition objected to what was being done and the method of doing it would not seem to matter much. As far as the Opposition was concerned it had gorje as far ag it could in trying to persuade the Government not to pass the measure. The Bill was put through committee in a matter of minutes, read a third time and passed.