AVIATION VENTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 15

AVIATION VENTURE

REFUSAL OF LICENCE CLAIM FOR REDRESS SOUTHERN COMPANY'S PETITION [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A claim for redress for injury as the result of adverse decisions of the Transport Co-ordination Board is contained in a petition presented to Parliament to-day by Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government —Dunedin West) on behalf of New Zealand Airways, Limited, and Mr. H. M. Maekay. The petition states that after the company had spent six years in pioneering work in civil aviation in Now Zealand decisions of the Transport Coordination Board given in 19.'>4-35 had the effect of forcing New Zealand Airways, Limited, almost out of business, because of its inability to obtain a licence to operate services on any major route or over territory which it was already serving. The company was incorporated in 1928, states the petition, and commenced active flying operatipns in the following year. By 1934 the company had six aeroplanes and an extensive aircraft repair factory at Timaru, tho business having been built up under adverse conditions at great expense. Almost within a fortnight of the passing of the Transport Licensing (Commercial Aircraft Services) Act, 1934, New Zealand Airways, Limited, applied for a general licence to run air services throughout New Zealand, but the was not dealt with until February 5, 1935, the decision being given on April 10, 1935, when the main trunk routes were given to other applicants. The company had to abandon at heavy expense an order for three Boeing machines which it had placed in Canada, continued the petition, while it was left without use for two other similar machines which it had already imported. The reason given by the board for its decision was that the financial ability of the company was not adequate, but it was claimed that it was sufficient to carry on the proposed service satisfactorily.

Tho boar! also expressed the opinion that the Boeing machines were obsolete, but this was denied by the company, which pointed out also that English machines (Airspeed Envoys) were mentioned in the application. The board had evidently given no consideration to that aspect, although it had given other applicants an opportunity both to find their capital and select suitable machines.

Although New Zealand Airways had since been granted a minor route licence and an air taxi licence, these were useless, it was stated with the result that the company was so restricted and crippled that it was almost out of business. ft was now unable to operate a regular service between any points in New Zealand.

"PREVENTING SWEATING" WORK OUT OF FACTORIES PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS [by TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL HErOItTEIt] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The practice of some employers in giving work out to be done elsewhere than in a factory is dealt with in two clauses of the Factories Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives to-day. The "sweating" provisions of the main Act can be applied b.v Order-in-Council to this class of work with exceptions in the cases of textile or shoddy material. Another clause provides that work let out or given out by the occupier of a factory, if performed outside of a registered factory, shall bo done only by a person who holds a licence granted by an inspector of factories. Only one such licence may be granted for every 10 persons employed in the particular factory. Licences will be for a period not exceeding 12 months and will be granted only to people who are in necessitous circumstances or who. for special reasons, are unable to work in a factory. Before an inspector grants a licence, he has to be satisfied that the place where the work is to be done is suitable and that the rate of remuneration is at least equivalent to the factory rate. There is a right of appeal to a magistrate in cases where inspectors refuse to issue licences.

UNPAID CROWN RATES REQUEST FOR GRANT POLICY STATEMENT PROMISED [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A request that the Government should make provision this session for a grant, to boroughs and counties to recoup them for losses occasioned through the non-payment of rates by <ho Mortgage Corporation and Government departments was made by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition—"Waitoino) in an urgent question addressed to the Minister of Finance, Hon. W. Nash, in the House of Representatives to-day. 1 "The losses incurred by many boroughs aftd counties are considerable," said Mr. Broadfoot, "and those ratepayers who do pay are being heavily penalised to meet the deficiency caused through the non-payment of these rates liv the State." Mr. Nash said the matter was receiving the consideration of the Government. whose oolicv would be announced during the present session or when the Financial Statement was submitted to the House.