CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19099, 21 August 1936, Page 9

CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION

LOST AIRWAYS LICENSE EVIDENCE IN REBUTTAL UNSUITABLE MACHINES (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The unsuitability of aircraft chosen by the company, and the company s lack of financial ability, were the main points submitted in evidence in rebuttal before the M to Z Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives, in continuation of the hearing of the petition by New Zealand Airways Ltd., and H. M. Mackay, managing director, for compensation. alleged to be due through the Transport Co-oTdination Board refusing to grant the company a license to operate air services on major routes in the Dominion. \ In-the course of evidence, umg-tcom-mander T. M. Wilkes said that when applications were made to the Transport Board for licenses, the hoard submitted the applications to him for a report on certain matters. In his report (which was read to the committee). Mr. \\ likes stated that Airspeed Envoys could maintain the time-table suggested with ease. ' The Boeing machines, however, would have difficulty in doing so over some seetions of the'route The Boeing was a single-engined machine powered with a Wasp engine. . TYPE BEING REPLACED This type was used in the American air-mail routes, but was being replaced. He did not think that a single-engined machine should be used on a regular service across Cook Strait, and they could not be regarded as of any great value from a defence point of view. Evidence was also given by Mr. A. J. Conway, Controller of Civil Aviation, as to the financial position of the applicants for commercial licenses, and the suitability of the machines which they proposed to. operate. • Sir. Conway said that Trevor Withers, promoter of Great Pacific Airways, had given evidence before the board as to its financial arrangements, which had been found incorrect. He would say that, on the evidence of the financial sources stated to be available to the Great Pacific Airways, the New Zealand Airways Board was justified in coming to the conclusion that Great Pacific Airways had a better chance than New Zealand Airways of getting the money to start the services. After further submissions, the Rev. A. H. Nordmeyer, deputising for the chairman. said the decision of the committee would be announced in the House in due course.