AIR SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22504, 22 August 1936, Page 18

AIR SERVICE

COMPENSATION CLAIM PETITION TO PARLIAMENT ISSUE OF CONTRADICTION Strong exception is taken by Mr. Trevor S. Withers, of Auckland, organiser for Great Pacific Airways, to a report of evidence given by Mr. A. .1. Conway, formerly secretary to the Transport Co-ordination Board, before the M to Z Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives on Thursday. In giving evidence to the committee upon the petition of New Zealand Airways, Limited, Mr. Conway was reported yesterday to have saSd that Mr. Withers had given evidence before the board as to the financial arrangements of Great Pacific Always, but that this evidence was subsequently found to be incorrect. "The reported statement is wluoll.v untrue and without foundation," Mr. Withers stated, when interviewed "yesterday. "It is grossly unfair to me and my associates, who are some of the leading business executives of New Zealand and Australia. Desire to Make Statement "I have just telephoned Mr. Conway in Wellington," Mr. Withers added, "and lie has assured mei that the published report is an incorrect statement of his evidence given before the Parliamentary Committers. He denies having made the statement attributed to him. I a in. neveiftheless, immediately replying to the chairman of the committee for an opportunity to be heard personally by the (committee, as 1 feel bound to do everything possible to dispel the erroneous and unfair impression created by the report referred to." The report on Mr. Conwray's evidence, and the above comments by Mr. Withers thereon, were tq-day referred to Mr. Lisle Alderton, of Auckland, a member of the late Transport Co-ordination Board. Underwriting of Capfital Mr. Alderton stated that Mr. Conway's statement as to the financial arrangements of Great Paciific Airways referred to the underwriting arrangements made by Mr. Withers on liehalf of that company. "In with applications for aircnuft service licences," said Mr. Alderton, "the board was bound, both by law and in the interests of public safety, to ensure that licences were granted only to companies or proposed, companies the finances of which w«ere definitely assured. In this connection Mr. Withers advised the boeird that he had capital underwrittep for Great Pacific Airways to tIK? extent of £60,000. The truth of his statement was carefully investigated by the board, which satisfied iiself as to the correctness of the satm\ I have no knowledge of Mr. Withers having misled the board in connection with this matter, and I feel quite confident that Mr. Conway, the former secretary to the board, has been mis-reported in the Wellington inessapje above referred to. This appears proba,ble, also, in that he is erroneously described in that message as being the Controller of Civil Aviation, whereas he is an officer of the Transport Department."