INTERNAL AIR MAILS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22431, 29 May 1936, Page 10

INTERNAL AIR MAILS

For lack of sufficient patronage to cover expenses, the existing internal air mail services may shortly have to be discontinued. That is the dictum of the Post-master-General. It is certainly a change to find a Labour Minister judging a public service purely on economic motives. The question in this case is whether he is preparing to decide the issue after too short a test, one that is also incomplete. Postmasters-General in other countries have persisted with the experiment and been amazed at the rapid growth of business. But in this, as in fevery other new enterprise, the pioneer stage must be expected and paid for. In New Zealand there is another and special cause of the disappointing patronage. The service is incomplete.. The so-called national route begins at Palmerston North and ends at Dunedin and even so leaves out Wellington. Until there is a trunk route worthy of the name, including the two chief centres of the air mail will not prosper as it should because it offers a severely limited service. The development of the overseas air mails is stunted for the same reason —the route is not fully covered by flying. Everyone will agree with Mr. Jones' conclusion that " we really do need air mails in New Zealand." It is for him as Postmaster-General and Mr. Semple aa Minister of Transport to assist in meeting the need by a more positive and encouraging attitude toward the development of a national trunk route. Such a service would attract business because of the general advantages in mail despatch it would offer.