AIR SERVICE LICENCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 168, 20 July 1935, Page 10

AIR SERVICE LICENCES

BOARD’S FINAL DECISION AMENDMENT BUT NO APPEAL I'ACIEIC AIRWAYS FORWARDS APPLICATION [ Per Tress Association. ] AUCKLAND, July 19. Application fur an amendment to thvj recent decision uf the Transport Coordination Board, waicb excluded i’almcrstoii North fium the trunk air route of Great I’aciiic Aiiways (N.Z.) Ltd., has been forwarded to the boaid by Mr. Trevor B. Withers, organiser of l.hu company. Tire decision to make I lie application followed receipt ut iniormation which, according tu Air. G. \V. Hutchison, chairman oi directors of Aviation Development, Ltd., made it clear that the Jinal decisions of the board relative to air service licences were capabi-e of amendment by the board, although apparently no appeal could be made against niich decisions. “Information was received by the directors to-day that the betird had recently amended its final decision relative tu the licence granted to Union Airways, Ltd., by including Blenheim as a port of call upon that company'3 air route,” Air. Hutchison said, “ jnis amendment was made by the simple expedient uf a board minute, and union Airways will accoi’diugly now be allowed to include Bluniieim as an airport upon its I’almeiaton North-Dun-edin service instead of having to operate a direct service between Palmerston North and Christchurch, provided in Ihe boaru s original decision.

“The precedent thus created by the board establishes beyond all doubt tne fact that the board can, if it deems such a course to be in the public in terest, give further consideration to the inclusion of Palmciston North upon the trunk route of Great Pacific Airways, and that it can by minute amend its recent decision in this connection, and include PalmerSvOn North in Great Pacific Airways’ licence.

“The dircctois accordingly instructed Air. V.’it he <s to apply to tne board immediately with a view to having the question of Palmerston North further investigated at a public sitting of the board.” He added that .he was confident that the board would, in view of the many and emphatic protests voiced at the exclusion of Palmerston North from the Auckland Dunedin air route, be prepared to g*ve the question the further investigation it so obviously demanded. Since those interested in Great Pacific Airways did not oppose the amendment of the board's final decision relating to the inclusion of Blenheim in Union Airways’ route, they suggested that no opposition by Union Airways, Ltd., in regard to Palmerston North should now be expected.