WELLINGTON’S CLAIMS

Southland Times, Issue 23334, 19 October 1937, Page 8

WELLINGTON’S CLAIMS

SHIPPING AND AIR TERMINAL REPLY OF MAYOR OF AUCKLAND (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, October 18. While having no intention of being inveigled into a futile Auckland versus 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 generalizations made by a deputation to 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. Wellington harbour is a mere pond alongside the many sheltered waters in the Hauraki Gulf which, apart altogether from its proximity to world trade routes, and its 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 real. “In the case of the projected transTasman aerial service it is of no advantage at all as an important factor in the service will be through traffic for passengers and mails connecting up with the Pan-American trans-Pacific aerial link at Auckland. It would be uneconomic and pointless to have a transTasman aerial terminal situated at such a distance from the tfans-Pacific aerial terminal. Also, from the point of view of tourist shipping traffic, Auckland has long since functioned as a steppingoff mark obviously because of the avoidance of duplicated travelling which would result from initial landings at Wellingtoh.” The Mayor added that when it came to the selecting of a terminal for an important air service it was impossible to conceal the chilly fact of Wellington’s weather disadvantages. “Unhappily,” Sir Ernest said, “there is a tendency on the part of Wellington to be greedy. It has the seat of government, it is the centre of the civil service life, and it handles far 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 an additional helping.”

CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED 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 generalizations. “It comes as a very unpleasant shock to me that an attempt is being made in Wellington to revive allega*’ cheap parochialism,” said Mr W president of the Chamber omerce, in a statement. “However, . > 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 corne as a surprise to most people to realize that a serious attempt is being made to shift the Vancouver shipping service to Wellington on the grounds that the Matson ships call here.” He added that, so far as the trans-Tasman air service was concerned, 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,” he said, “it is obvious that Auckland’s claims speak for themselves. About the undignified outburst from Wellington, it is most regrettable that these matters have to be approached in this undesirable manner, but the attitude of certain public bodies in Wellington left no option in the matter.”

CONTROVERSY OF NO USE DECISION OF EXPERTS TO BE ABIDED BY WELLINGTON, October 18. Replying to the statement of the Mayor of Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis) about Wellington’s claims for consideration as a terminal for overseas air and shipping services the Mayor of Wellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) said the question, of Wellington’s suitability for handling and mooring flying-boats could not be established by a controversy or any series of claims and counter claims, but by the considered opinion of experts. He was quite sure Wellington would abide by their decision. All that Wellington asked was that the question of the terminal for the transTasman air service should be considered judiciously with an eye to the interests, not of any city or any port, but to the best interests of all New Zealand.