Air Transport Test

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23114, 31 January 1945, Page 4

Air Transport Test

THE Prime Minister has paid a 1 well-merited tribute to the work done in the North Island last week by the Royal New Zealand Air Forcewhich provided a quick and efficient substitute transport service between Auckland and Wellington. It is probable that the railway strikers in Auckland believed that disorganisation of the transport system would make the Government more anxious to meet their unreasonable demand. However, if the strike has accomplished anything, it is to show that New Zealand is no longer dependent upon the railways for long journeys, and. it is possible that among the 4415 passengers carried between Auckland and Wellington last week many will have decided that air travel is preferable to tiring confinement in a railway carriage for a long period. The Auckland strike caused no interruption in passenger or mail transport; persons who had <?6od reason for wishing to travel were carried at railway fares in a small fraction of the time ordinarily taken for the long North Island journeys. It was a great achievement for the Royal New Zealand Air Force to arrange such a service at short notice, but this demonstration of efficiency and safety has given a preview of post-war transport in New Zealand. What was accomplished under pressure last week will be the commonplace of the future. On long journeys the railways will probably provide only the second string for passenger transport; mail will also be carried by air over long distances, leaving only heavier freight for the railways. The Auckland strikers showed New Zealand that the days of dependence on the railways is passing. The striking railwaymen have not done a great service to themselves,, in forcing general awareness of this fact upon the people of New Zealand.