NO AIR LINK

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23133, 3 September 1938, Page 14

NO AIR LINK

HAMILTON AND SOUTH COMMERCE CHAMBER'S PROTEST I ■■ [from our own correspondent] Hamilton, Friday The exclusion of Hamilton from the proposed Auckland-Gisborno air route was the subject of strong protest at a special meeting of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce emergency committee. The meeting was held as a result of the announcement of Union Airways, Limited, that it intended to operate the service from Auckland to Gisborne by way of Tauranga and Opotiki. The opinion was expressed that Hamilton's inclusion as a stopping place was a matter of vital importance to the people of the .Waikato. The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. A. G. Ward, presided. It was decided to write to the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. G. Laurenson, and to send copies of the letter to the Hon. W. Lee Martin, Minister of Agriculture, and Mr. C. A. Barrell, M.P., urging the inclusion of Hamilton in the air service.

The letter stated:—"There is urgent necessity for air transport between the Waikato and Auckland for both local transport and as a feeder to the present trunk services; and for Hamilton to have an air service with the south. With tho cessation c£ sea transport, all transport north of Gisborne, Opotiki and Tauranga has been through Hamilton, and a considerable volume of trade has developed between tho Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay and the Waikato. Approximately 200,000 sheep and 20,000 head of cattle come to the Waikato annually from these districts, and, for the convenience of traders and farmers, Hamilton should be included in this route. Thero is a very largo population within a radius of 20 miles of the Waikato airport, and an air service would be an economic success."