TRUNK AIR SERVGICE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 2

TRUNK AIR SERVGICE

PALMERSTON NORTH APPEAL. NEW PLYMOUTH’S ATTITUDE. In common with other, centres, New Plymouth made strong protests recently against the decision of the Transport Coordination Board that Great Pacific Airways' route should not include a stop at Palmerston North, The New Plymouth Borough Council followed the lead of the Chamber of Commerce in appointing Mr, C. H. Weston, K.C., to represent it in an honorary capacity at the hearing the appeal at Wellington. News of the success of the appeal and of his personal representations op behalf of New Plymouth was received by the council on Monday night from Mr, Weston. Reporting on the hearing before the transport board, Mr. Weston said that the combined representations of' Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Lower Hutt and Wellington had carried weight with the board and had had the effect of inducing Union Airways Ltd. to agree to Palmerston North being included, subject to the condition that Great Pacific Airways Ltd., while it could drop passengers from the north at Palmerston, was not to be allowed to pick up passengers for the south. Great Pacific Airways would, it was assumed, be allowed to take up passengers for the north. “The board gave no intimation of its own views,” said Mr, Weston in his letter.

“I had to concede that this would meet New Plymouth’s objections except in so far as it might affect the earning capacity of Great Pacific Airways and thereby lessen its chances of success,” he continued. "Wellington, of course, would not accept this concession as a settlement of the dispute.” One of the disquieting features as affecting New Plymouth, was the neutrality of Palmerston North, which Mr. O’Shea suggested to the board might have been purchased by Union Airways Ltd. agreeing to support the future application of Palmerston North to be the terminal of the trans-TaSman service. "Union Airways is spending a great deal of money at Palmerston North,” stated Mr. Weston. "Mr. White, for Union Airways, admitted that the Union Steamship Co. looks forward to having some interest in the trans-Tasman service."