AIR SERVICES

Southland Times, Issue 22896, 22 May 1936, Page 8

AIR SERVICES

Possible Extension Discussed (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, May 21 A possible extension of commercial air services from Auckland to Wellington suggested by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. R. Semple) in opening the second reading debate on the Transport Licensing Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives on Tuesday night, was the subject of further reference by the Minister in an interview to-day. The present position is that Union Airways. Ltd. is discussing with the Government the possibilities of an extension of its services to Auckland, but, so far, the company has not made formal application for a new licence. “The Government has received an application from Mr T. S. Withers, of Auckland, on behalf of Great Pacific Airways, for a subsidy for a proposed trunk service from Auckland,” Mr Semple said. “The matter has been fully considered, and the Government’s decision is that the subsidy cannot be granted. Mr Withers has been informed of that decision.” Commenting on his statement in the House, the Minister said that representatives of Union Airways had discussed with him their company’s plans for a service between Wellington and Auckland. It was proposed to run a daily service both ways, with stops at Palmerston North and New Plymouth, and the scheduled time for the journey would be three hours. Details of the proposals had not yet been discussed, but the whole mattex" would be investigated thoroughly when Union Airways applied for a licence. He understood that Union Airways’ application would be for a licence to carry passengers and mails, and that the proposed service would be co-ordinated with those other services already carried on by the company