AIR SERVICES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20027, 7 February 1935, Page 11

AIR SERVICES

APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES DECISION RESERVED By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, February 6. The hearing of the application made to the Transport Co-ordination Board Dn behalf of four companies—National Airways of New Zealand, Limited, New Zealand Airlines, Limited, Dominion Airways, Limited, and New Zealand Airways, Limited—for air transport licenses was resumed to-day. Mr Mackey said that the machines his company would be using had British certificates of airworthiness. The Boeing machines ordered were of the type that had been used in America as mail carriers. They were being replaced there by faster machines. The chairman said that if any company was granted a license for a main trunk route he, personally, would not like to S'-e an American company get a monopoly of the machines put into commission.

Mr Ward said that Boeing machines were built in Canada, but his client could not say for certain whether the company’s capital came from Canada or the United States. Mr Alderton read an extract from a report by the Director of Air Services iWing Commander T. M. Wilkesl which stated that Boeing machines were obselete and would be useless for defence purposes. Mr Mackay said that Boeing machines were just as modern as any of the defence machines in New Zealand.

Sir Stephen Allan asked Mr White how soon the Union Steam Ship Company could commence operations if it were granted a license. The board wanted to be sure that the license would be used for the service and not to hold up other operators while representations were made to the Government for a subsidy. Mr White said his company was prepared to send experts to England as soon as the license was granted to purchase the very latest types of machines. The service could be brought into operation approximately in Septemper.

Mr Withess said that Dominion Airways, Ltd., did not anticipate starting operations before December next, if a license were granted. Mr Nelson said that New Zealand Airlines, Ltd., could start its service as quickly as any of the other applicants. Routes and Fares The Board reserved its decision concerning the granting of automatic licenses for commercial flying to Aero Clubs throughout New Zealand. The following proposed rates were submitted: —One passenger machines £3 per 100 miles, two passenger £3 10s per 100 miles, centenary air race committees’ machine £6 per hour. The board also reserved its decision on applications for licenses for two daily services across Cook Strait, the first, by the Goodwin and Chichester Aviation Co., Ltd., being by multipleengined machines between Wellington and Nelson, Wellington and Blenheim and Blenheim and Nelson, the fares, while the service is being built up, to be £1 3s, 17/- and 15/- respectively. It was stated that the company proposed to charge those fares for three months and when travellers became used to to flying the fares would be reviewed. Each passenger would be charged 2/6 landing fee. . . ~ . Replying to comment on behalf of the White Star Motors that the fares were below those charged by the motor services between Blenheim and Nelson, Mr Goodwin said the company had to charge less to persuade travellers to go by air. Future charges would be a matter for the board. The second application was that of Cook Strait Airways for a service between Wellington and Hokitika, calling at Blenheim and Nelson The company was said to have a capital of £50.000, and more would be forthcoming if necessary. The sum of £17,500 had already been subscribed and the remainder had been promised by the Union Company, the Anchor Shipping Company and Newman Bros. The fares submitted were regarded as the maximum required.