PACIFIC AIRWAYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22657, 19 February 1937, Page 10

PACIFIC AIRWAYS

SUGGESTION OF HITCH OPPORTUNITY PASSING COMMERCIAL MEN ALARMED IMMEDIATE ACTION URGED [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*] NAPIER, Thursday The continued delay in the negotiations regarding the Pacific air service proposed by Pan-American Airways has prompted Mr. M. G. C. McCaul, i of Wellington, president of the Asso- j dated Chambers of Commerce, to issue j a statement on the subject, advocating immediate action. Mr. McCaul, who is visiting Napier, to-day made the follow- i ing statement: "The suggestion that there lias occurred u serious hitch in the negotiations between the New Zealand Government and Pan-American Airways for the establishment of an air service between San Francisco and New Zealand will be viewed with alarm by all commercial men who have given any thought to tho very real advantages that will accrue to New Zealand from the establishment of such a service. New Zealand ; suffers generally from its isolation. J Assisting Tasman Service "We do not yet know whether tlie proposed Tasman Service will eventuate, even if New. Zealand contributes n heavy subsidy; Tho Pacific service is ■within our grasp. No subsidy is asked for and surely it seems wise to stop haggling and close tho deal while we may. A Pacific service will not injure n Tasman service, but will bo of direct assistance in making a Tasman service profitable, for it- will bring a steady stream of through passengers from the United States and the Far East to Australia, via New Zealand. "Instead of being situated in a backwater New Zealand will thus be on one of the main air highways of the world and will be a vital link in the communication between Canada, United States, the Far East and Australia. No Known Objections "Wo should not allow this oppor-1 tunitv to pass unless there are grave -i r objections that have not so far been disclosed. The proposed San FranciscoNew Zealand service will give a great fillip to our tourist traffic. It will bring New Zealand within three days of San Francisco and four days of New York. Think of what that means to the wealthy American business man upon whom Europe has begun to pall but who cannot spare the time for long sea journeys. Every day we sec air services becoming more and more a vital link in mail and passenger services between the nations. "I am sure I am speaking for th» whole commercial community of New Zealand when I say that I hope our Government will find it possible to reach an agreement with Pan-American Airways satisfactory to all the interests concerned." TASMAN SERVICE WELLINGTON AS TERMINAL NO SUPPORT FROM DUNEDIN £by telegraph—PßESS association] DUNEDIN, Thursday At a meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce last evening a letter was received from the secretary of the "Wellington Chamber requesting support in an endeavour to have Wellington made the terminal point for tho proposed Tasman air service. It "was emphasised that, with Wellington as the terminal port, the South Island would greatly benefit in the time saved in the delivery of mails and the arrival of passengers, as against the terminus being at Auckland. Mr. M. Myers, ex-president of the Dunedin chamber, said the matter was .. a parochial one, and, while it might be logical to assume that Wellington would be a more suitable terminal than Auckland, the authorities no doubt had excellent reasons for establishing the „ terminal at Auckland. It was only a matter of time when Auckland would be only three hours further away by air from Dunedin than x Wellington was, and he thought the Dunedin chamber - would be wise to take no action. It was accordingly decided that no / action be taken.