AIR TRUNK LINE!

Taranaki Daily News, 12 April 1935, Page 4

AIR TRUNK LINE!

AUCKLAND TO DUNEDIN CALL AT NEW PLYMOUTH GREAT PACIFIC AIRWAYS TWO LICENSES GRANTED ANNOUNCEMENT BY BOARD

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. On the ground that the trunk air service proposed by the Union Steam Ship Company was primarily a mail service and was out of direct touch with half the population the Transport Co-ordina- . tion Board in decision delivered to-day ' granted licenses for trunk air services to both Union Airways of New Zealand (Union Steam Ship Company) andGreat Pacific Airways (New Zealand) Ltd. (Mr. T. S. Withers). The application of a third company, New Zealand Airways Ltd., was refused. The opinion was expressed that any one of the three applications might be considered by itself to fill the requirements for an aircraft service license, and the board stated it was of the opinion that a permit for more than one service over the whole route at present would involve wasteful competition. The board believed that all applicants agreed that one through service over the main route was enough, at any rate to start with.

In regard to the application of New Zealand Airways Ltd., the board said .it was not satisfied with the financial ability of the company to carry on a service, though that statement must not be assumed as a reflection on the solvency of the applicant company. In dealing with the applications of the other two companies the board stated that it would have preferred the two rival applicants to have joined forces. With that end in view the parties were brought together for negotiations which were not successful. The board expressed the opinion that some service beyond that which was proposed by the Union Company was desirable, as, except by feeder services, it was out of direct touch with half the population of the country, particularly the two largest centres. Its aim was primarily to be a mail service, and a main service must be one that could fly from Auckland to as far south as possible." As a service . only from Palmerston North to Christchurch or Dunedin the Union Company’s proposal was valuable, and there was no objection to a license being issued to it for that particular route, in addition to a main license which must go elsewhere. Thus both passengers and mails were being adequately provided for. The board therefore intended to grant a license to Great Pacific Airways upon its incorporation. The service would in the first place be on the route proposed by the applicant from Auckland to New Plymouth, Wanganui, Palmerston North, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Timaru and Dunedin. The board stated that under the circumstances it might be that Palmerston North would be sufficiently provided for by the Union Company without being made 'a calling place for Great Pacific Airways. The report also commented drastically on the Rongotai aerodrome at Welling-. , ton and stated that until a ground was available remote from the dangerous climatic conditions which prevailed at Wellington a regular call could not be made at Wellington. Paekakariki was mentioned in the report as a suggested site for an aerodrome, to serve Wellington.

NEW PLYMOUTH LANDINGS.

CALLS IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.

The Great Pacific Airways service will consist of a plane each way daily between Auckland and Dunedin. Under the proposed time-liable the southbound plane will land at New Plymouth in the morning and the north-bound plane will land in the afternoon.