NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1935, Page 9

NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

MERGER OF AIR SERVICES BOARD AGAIN HEARS APPLICANTS. / PROMISES OF EXTENSIONS MADE. NEW PLYMOUTH AND AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Long negotiations for the purpose of combining the companies competing for the trunk air service apparently having proved abortive, their claims were again presented to the Transport Co-ordination Board at this afternoon’s sitting. For Great Pacific Airways Mr. G. P. Finlay said his company proposed to serve a greater area than did the Union Steam Ship Company and would cover it more comprehensively. The proposals were based on the report of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr. C. T. P. Ulm and aimed at the development of a service from Auckland to Dunedin, with feeder services.

Mr. C. G. White, who appeared for the Union Company, said his company was honest enough to say it would not call at Wellington till facilities were better. It would be easy for an applicant company to say after a license was granted that it would not call there. Mr. H. J. Knight, of New Zealand Airways Ltd., said that at first the company’s service, concentrating on freight, would run from Palmerston. North to Dunedin but the aim would be to connect with Auckland and New Plymouth at the earliest possible date. Mr. P. E. Pattrick and Mr. A. G. Hislop, representing the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, strongly urged that Wellington should be a point of call in any trunk service, which was not provided for in the proposed route of Union Airways. Mr. Hislop said tnat the chamber would be satisfied with a 90 per cent, regular service, which was all Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt said could be obtained at Rongotai on account of climatic conditions. Much of the discussion centred round the suitability of Rongotai, the chairman suggesting that a suitable New Year resolution for the chamber would, be; “Buy a bigger and better aerodrome."

The board will sit again to-morrow.