AIRCRAFT SERVICES BILL

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1934, Page 4

AIRCRAFT SERVICES BILL

EFFECT UPON CLUB FLYING CURTAILING AIR TAXI BRANCH. OPINIONS OF NEW PLYMOUTH MAN. MR. A. F. SANDFORD PESSIMISTIC. “The Bill came as an absolute surprise,” said Mr. S. E. Nielson, secretary of the New Plymouth Aero Club, the Western Federated Flying Club, the New Zealand Aero Club and the New Plymouth Airport Board when interviewed by the Daily News on the Commercial Aircraft Services Bill. “No opportunity has been given for study of its provisions so it is impossible to give a considered opinion.” "To what extent will the development of aviation in New Zealand be affected by it? It is certain,” said Mr. Nielson, “that if aero clubs are debarred from doing the casual commercial and taxi work they do at present the Government will have to increase the subsidy substantially to enable them to carry on.” Despite a possibly adverse effect on club aviation, Mr. Nielson-said that his first unfavourable impression of the Bill had been modified by later examination. Taken as a whole he thought that it would do more good than harm in preventing from the outset the anomalous conditions of competition which had developed with motor transport. Undoubtedly the Bill was the outcome of a desire to bring commercial aviation into the category of a national monopoly. Hie licensing authority would have wide powers which might be used to prevent the bringing into existence of numerous small concerns operating indiscriminately and to no fixed timetable. The authority would operate differently from that now controlling motor transport in that it would be the sole judge of whether or not a service was necessary on a certain route and of what nature that service should be.

The subscription of capital to private commpanies, Mr. Nielson remarked, was an aspect which would have to be considered. The existence of an authority which could summarily cancel or withdraw a license at the end of a given period might have some effect. Provided, however, an aviation concern was adequately backed, there would seem no reason to suppose that the authority would interfere with the enterprise. Mr. A. F. Sandford, president of the New Plymouth Aero Club and chairman of the New Plymouth Airport Board, was not sanguine about the effect of the Bill if it became law. Although he had not yet had time to examine the text thoroughly he was of the opinion, from the general trend of the provisions, that the measure would have a detrimental effect on both commercial aviation and club flying in New ZeaLnd. He explained that, as things were at present, many aero clubs were permitted to exist largely as a result of money earned by casual taxi work. Licensing and attendant restrictions would mean that, unless subsidies were substantially increased, many clubs would be forced out of existence. “I am afraid,” said Mr. Sandford, “that the Bill will deal a very serious blow to club flying and will tend also to prevent the subscription of capital to commercial concerns.” t Young pilots would also be affected m that the experience they obtained would be curtailed by the ban on making casual passenger flights. * The New Zealand Aero Club is to place its views on the Bill before the Minister this week.