AIR TERMINAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23326, 19 October 1937, Page 7

AIR TERMINAL

CLAIMS OF WELLINGTON AUCKLAND CASE STATED SHARP CONTROVERSY EVOKED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 18. While having no intention of being inveigled into a futile Auckland v. Wellington newspaper controversy, the Mayor of Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis), says in a statement issued to the press that he cannot permit to go unchallenged some generalisations made by the deputation to the Wellington members of Parliament on Thursday in what appears to be the commencement of an intensive propaganda campaign. “ I submit that there never can be any real comparison between the two harbours,” Sir Ernest said. “ Wellington Harbour is a mere pond alongside the many sheltered waters in Hauraki Gulf which, apart altogether from its proximity to the world trade routes, and admirable aviation approaches, has unrivalled meteorological advantages. The only outstanding claim made on behalf of Wellington was its central position, and the facility it supposedly offered for distribution. But this advantage is more apparent than and in the case of the projected trans-Tasman aerial service it is no advantage at all, as the important factor in the service will be through traffic for passengers and mails connecting up with the PanAmerican trans-Pacific aerial link at Auckland. ' It would be uneconomic and pointless to have the transTasman aerial terminal situated at such a distance from ' the transpacific aerial terminal. Weather Disadvantages “Also from the point of view of tourist shipping traffic,” Sir Ernest continued, “Auckland has long since functioned as the stepping-off mark, obviously because of the avoidance of duplicated travelling which would result from initial landings at Wellington.” The Mayor added that when it came to selecting the terminal for an important air service, it was impossible to conceal the chilly fact of Wellington’s weather disadvantages. “ Unhappily,” the Mayor said, “there is a tendency on the part of Wellington to be greedy. It has the seat of Government. It is the centre of civil service life, and it handles more shipping than does Auckland, but after the manner of Oliver Twist it is always returning for more, and with little or no justification for the additional helping. The Mayor proposes to call a conference at an early date to represent to the Government Auckland s case and \to ask that its claim be judged on the facts as they exist, and not upon unsupported generalisations. “Cheap Parochialism” “It comes as a very unpleasant shock to me that an attempt is being made by Wellington to revive allegations of cheap parochialism, said Mr W. R. Fee, president of the Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “ However, if it is necessary for Auckland to press its claims, I can assure the citizens that the Chamber of Commerce will not be found wanting. It will come as a surprise to most people to realise that a serious attempt is being made to shift the Vancouver shipping service to Wellington on the grounds that the Matson ships call here, Mr Fee added that, so far as the trans-Tasman air service was concemed, no action had been taken to press the claims of Auckland. It was thought that the selection of the terminal was a matter that could only be decided by experts, but it was obvious that Auckland s claims spoke for themselves to such an extent as to bring an undignified outburst from Wellington. It was most regrettable that these matters had to be approached in this undesirable manner, ,but the attitude of certain public bodies in Wellington left no option in the matter. THE LOGICAL TERMINAL ADVANTAGES OF WELLINGTON REPLY TO SIR ERNEST DAVIS THE EXPERTS SHOULD DECIDE (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct. 18. “There is no sound reply to the assertion that, as regards economic distribution throughout New Zealand, Wellington is the logical point at which the trans-Tasman air terminal should be established, said the Mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) today, when commenting upon the remarks made by the Mayor of Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis). The second point, whether Wellington Harbour readily offers runways, sheltered water and the wellprotected lengths of waterfront required for the handling and mooring of flying boats is one which can be established not by controversy or by any series of claims and counter-claims, but by the considered opinions of men who are up to date and expert in their work. Mr Hislop said he had, as Mayor of Wellington, made a formal request to the Minister of Transport (Mr R. Semple) that the Government should seek an opinion from such experts, and Wellington, he was sure, would be content to abide by the opinion given. The National Interest “ I hope,’ 1 he continued, “ that the important question of the situation of the trans-Tasman flying boat terminal is not going to be confused by parochial attacks by one city against another. The question is not as between Auckland and Wellington. The question, as I see it, is what is the best point for the distribution of passengers and mails coming from Australia to New Zealand by air. “ If New Zealand is to be treated merely as a point of call for through passengers between Australia and the United States, a point at which transfer can be made from one service to another, then something can be said for the contention of the Mayor of Auckland that Auckland is a suitable point. But the people of New Zealand are going to pay their full share for the benefits of a trans-Tasman air service, and will properly demand that New Zealand shall be given something more than the status of a merely convenient by-station. Harbour Defended “It is hardly necessary for me,” Mr Hislop continued, “to discuss

whether Wellington Harbour was properly described by the Mayor of Auckland as a mere pond—presumably in comparison with the waters of Waitemata Harbour—but I do feel that I could say that this ‘ pond ’ has an area of 63 square miles of land-locked and splendidly sheltered water.

“All that Wellington asks,” the Mayor proceeded, “ is that the important question of the establishment of the New Zealand terminal of the trans-Tasman air service shall be considered fully and judiciously with an eye to the interests, not of any city or of any port, but to the best interests of the whole of New, Zealand.” Question of Centrality “ The Wellington Chamber of Commerce never suggested that attacks have been made on the rights of the capital city,” said the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce (Mr A. J. Curtis) to-day. “ The rights are known and the chamber resents any suggestion of cheap parochialism.” The chamber believed, Mr Curtis added, that Wellington had been backward in making known its potentialities and it was making an attempt to rouse the public of New Zealand to a fair recognition of a suitable, centrally situated locality such as Wellington, to secure a‘more even distribution of commerce generally for the national benefit of th country. “The chamber has, however, a strong committee of experts and business men, who will report to the council of the chamber in reply to the Auckland charges, he concluded.