AIRWAYS APPEAL

Southland Times, Issue 25367, 20 August 1935, Page 8

AIRWAYS APPEAL

NORTH ISLAND ROUTE PALMERSTON NORTH EXCLUDED TRANSPORT BOARD’S ACTION (Per United Press Association.) " Wellington, August 19. The question whether Palmerston North should be included ,in the route of Great Pacific Airways in their proposed Auckland-Dunedin passenger and air-mail service was again before the Transport Co-ordination Board today. . , In July the board announced its decision that Palmerston North would be excluded from the route of the Pacific Airway Company in view of the fact that it was the northern terminal of Union Airways’ inter-island mail service from Palmerston to Dunedin. Protests were at once made by a number of local body authorities and by the business communities and formal application was made by Aviation Development Limited, on behalf of Great Pacific Airways, for an amendment to the license granted to Pacific Airways. Sir Stephen Allen presided and with him were Messrs L. A. Aiderton and H. B. Johnstone. A large number of local authorities are making representations in favour of the inclusion of Palmerston North. Auckland, .Wellington, Nev,’ Plymouth, Wanganui and Lower Hutt are making representations through counsel. For other representatives of councils and business interests and from the East Coast and Hawkes Bay centres and districts representations have been received by the board in writing. Mr H. F. O'Leary, for Great Pacific Airways, contended that Palmerston North was an essential port of call in the route of a service the of which was to serve the whole of New Zealand. He referred to the representations made by the Union Steam Ship Company to the board that Palmerston North should be excluded from the route of Great Pacific Airways as an attempt to cripple the operations of the company. Palmerston North must be the biggest air-travel centre as at present it was the biggest road and rail centre in the North Island. Mi O’Leary referred to the proposed timetables of Union and Great Pacific Airways to show that the two services cater for a different type of passenger and rail load and said that the Palmerston North call was essential for the connection between Wellington, Hawkes Bay and East Coast areas. Mr Allen replied that it would be more convenient for passengers from those districts to Wellington to come direct to Wellington rather than change at Palmerston North. Mr J. G. G. Watson, who appeared for Union Airways, said that when the I company received the board’s decision it had bought its planes on the assumption that it was to have the exclusive passenger rights on its service. Having ordered machines on that basis, the company was entitled to reasonable protection against unnecessary competition. He denied the suggestion that Union Airways were trying to freeze out Great Pacific. There was not enough business between Palmerston North and Wellington to justify two I services.

The hearing will be continued tomorrow.