TRANSPORT BY AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22027, 6 February 1935, Page 12

TRANSPORT BY AIR

DOMINION DEVELOPMENT

UNION COMPANY'S PLANS

LINK BETWEEN ISLANDS

EVIDENCE BEFORE BOARD

[BY TELEGKArn—PRKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday

Four companies applied to the Transport Co-ordination Board to-day for licences to conduc; air services over length}' routes in iS T ew Zealand. The applications are being heard by Sir Stephen Allen (chairman), Mr. H. p. S. Johnstone Jt.d Mr. Lisle Alderton. They were made by the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand for and on behalf c.f National Airways of New Zealand, Limited (Wellington), for a trunk routo between Palmerston North and Dunedin with calls at Blenheim and Christchurch; by Mr. S. E. Nielson for and on behalf of New Zealand Airlines, Limited (New Plymouth), for a service between Auckland and lnvercargill. Auckland. Company's Schemo

Mr. T. S. Withers for Dominion Airways, Limited (Auckland), applied for services betivuen Auckland and Dunedin, via New Plymouth, and Auckland and Nehion, via the East Coast.

New Zealand Airways applied for services as follow*:: —Auckland to lnvercargill; Welliagtcn.-Hokitika-Cromwell; Timaru-Cromwell-D unedin; 'lnvercar-gill-Stewart Inland; Auckland-Whanga-rei; and an air-teai service. When the first application was called Mr. C. G. White, who represented the Union Steam Ship Company put the managing director of the company, Mr. N. S. Falla, in the box to give evidence regarding the company's proposals. Mr. Falla said the prospect of the company entering the aviation field dated back to 1913 when the company was reformed. The company had the advice of experts, including Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor, who would be in the service of the company if the licence were granted. Cost of Organisation Air services in New Zealand would have to be developed and the company was aiming at a short, strong trunk, which could be solved by branches. He estimated that the cost of the short trunk service with good machines, radio beacons, and ground equipment would be about £100,00(1. The service would co-ordinate with the overnight train from Auckland to Palmerston North. Palmerston North oould also be fed from Taranaki and tha East Coast.

The short trunk gave ample opportunity for other companies to arrange feeder services and yould be of value to the progress of aviation throughout New Zealand as a whole. If the licence were granted jui expert would go straight to Engkirtd to secure machines and the service vrould he inaugurated without delay. The Chairman: You propose to use British machines?

Mr. Falla said "ihe machines had not been definitely decided on, but it was proposed they should be British, and that they should have more than one engine and an ample reserve of power. Machines carrying from eight to 10 passengers were proposed. Omission of Wellington

In reply to Mr. J. P. Ward, representing New Zealand Airways, Mr. Falla said that National Airways of New Zealand, Limited, existed in name only. His company wished to carry on its aerial activit .es under a name other than that used for its shipping activities, and was applying for a licence accordingly. In reply to Mr. W. J. Sim, representing the Mount Cook Motor Company, he said tb<3 trunk line proposed could be fed by air taxis from Mount Cook. The company did not propose to call at Wellington. Mr. S. E. Niefoon: What is your reason for omitting Wellington?

Mr. Falla: We would avoid the risks of weather at Hongotai. Mr. Nielson: .'tf Rongotai were improved, would jou consider there ?

Mr. Falla: We think the best way to. travel by, air from Wellington is to slip over to Blenheim and join a trunk line there. Proposals lor National Service

The next application heard was that of New Zealand Airlines, Limited, for a route between Auckland and Tnvercargill. Mr. Ni si son said a great deal of preliminary work in Now Zealand had been done by the late C. T. P. Ulm, and a plan was about to be launched when he was lost at sea. Mr. Ulm had applied for a national service, and had it not been for his untimely end he would have been present to submit a plan for the whole of New Zealand.

Mr. Nielson naid he had been requested by Greet Pacific Airways and Mr. Ulm's interests to ask for a postponement of consideration of the licences so that the data collected by Mr. Ulm could be presented in support of the application. Mr. Ulm had recommended a national service for New. Zealand so that it could be used for defence.

Mr. Nielson contended that air services could nob be established without subsidies, and the Government would not be anxious to subsidise a service if it could not be used for defence.

"If applicants will not operate without subsidies, what is the use of granting licences?" the chairman asked. Mr. Nielson staid he .was instructed to ask for an adjournment until June. Capital from Australia

The chairman said the board proposed to hear other applications before considering the request for an adjournment.

Mr. Nielson !.aid New Zealand Airlines was not yet registered, but it would draw most of its capital from Great Pacific Airways, an Australian company with a large capital. Mr. T. S. Withers-also asked for an adjournment £.rd stressed the importance of air services as part of the defence system of the Dominion. Dominion Airways ha:'i done a vast amount of exploration work and had asked for legislation to oo brought down by the Government. . Tho sitting of the board was adjourned until to-morrow. LICENCES TO CLUBS OPPOSED UNFAIR COMPETITION ALLEGED « [BY TKLEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The granting of automatic licences to aero clubs throughout the Dominion for regular services was opposed before the Transport Co ordination Board to-day by the New Zealand Airways, Limited, on tho grounds that the proposed fares would mean unfair competition with commercial concerns, also that club 3 had secured machines by means of art unions or Government loan and could undercut commercial concerns. It was contended, moreover, that clubs would not pay their pilots. As the representative of the clubs could not produce evidence as to how it was proposed that fares should be arrived at, tha gMtnting of licences was deferred. The applicants included the Manawatu Club £,n.d the Melbourne Centenary Air Race Committee.