AIR SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 22758, 7 December 1935, Page 8

AIR SERVICES

FARES AND TIMETABLES! PALMERSTON NORTH TO DUNEDIN ! i I OBJECTIONS VOICED (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, December 6. Objections to the fares proposed to be charged by Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., on its Wellington-Nelson-Blen-heim service, expected to be operating between Christmas’ and New Year, were raised when application for approval of the fares and time-tables by this company, and also by Union Airways, Ltd., was heard to-day by the Transport Co-ordination Board. It was argued that Cook Strait Airways fares were too high. The fares proposed were: Nelson-Wellington, £2 5/-; Wellington-Blenheim, £1 15/-; NelsonBlenheim, £1 10/-. The board approved of the fares, subject to a reduction in that from Wellington to Blenheim which it indicated would be announced in reserved decision. The time-table was approved subject to alterations to co-ordinate with Union Airways at Blenheim to serve Wellington. The decision is an interim one and will be subject to review at a sitting of the board in February. The time-table submitted was: Nelson, depart 7.30 a.m.; Blenheim, arrive 8.15, depart 8.20; Wellington, arrive 8.50, depart 9.0; Blenheim, arrive 9.30, depart 11.30; Wellington, arrive 12 0 depart 12.10 p.m.; Nelson, arrive l.io! depart 2.0; Wellington, arrive 3.0, depart 4.30; Blenheim, arrive 5.0, depart 5.10; Nelson, arrive 5.55. When Union Airways application for approval of the fares and time-table was considered, objection was raised by the representative of Great Pacific Airways, licensee for the trunk service from Dunedin to Auckland. He asserted that Union Airways, after securing a’ license to operate an express mail and passenger air service from Dunedin to Palmerston North to co-ordinate with the trains from Palmerston North to Auckland, had abandoned this service by proposing a morning flight from Dunedin to Palmerston North. The board tentatively approved the amended northward time-table, the whole matter to be reviewed in February. It announced that it was hoped to open the service about the middle of January. The company sought approval of the following time-table: South.—Palmerston North, depart 8.30 a.m.; Blenheim, arrive 9.27 a.m., depart 9.37 a.m.; Christchurch, arrive 10.50 a.m., depart 1.5 p.m.; Dunedin, arrive 12.37 p.m. North.—Dunedin, depart 8.15 a.m.; Christchurch, arrive 9.47 a.m., depart 9.57 a.m.; Blenheim, arrive 11.15 p.m., depart 11.25 p.m.; Palmerston North, arrive 12.22 p.m. Temporary approval was given for the following fares: Palmerston NorthBlenheim, £2 5/-; Blenheim-Christ-church, £2 15/-; Christchurch-Dun-edin, £3 10/-. The amended northward time-table is—Dunedin, depart 11.30 a.m.; Christchurch, arrive 1.2 p.m., depart 1.12 p.m.; Blenheim, arrive 2.30 p.m., depart 2.40; Palmerston North, arrive 3.37 p.m. It was explained that there would be a consequential alteration in the ,time-table of Cook Strait Airways by which the Nelson-Wellington trip in the afternoon would probably become the Nelson-Blenheim one to connect with Union Airways to pick up South Island passengers for Wellington.