CONTROVERSY RAISED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 8

CONTROVERSY RAISED

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON , NORTHERN MAYOR’S REPLY SOUTHERNERS’ “MERE POND” [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, Oct. 18. While having no intention of being inveigled into a futile Auckland versus Wellington newspaper controversy, the Mayor of Auckland, Sir E. Davis, says in a statement issued to the Press: "I cannot permit to go unchallenged some generalisations made by a deputation to Wellington members of Parliament on Thursday in what appears to me the commencement of an Intensive propaganda campaign. I submit that there never was and never can be any real comparison between the two harbours. Wellington Harbour is a mere pond alongside the many sheltered waters in Hauraki Gulf, which, apart altogether from its proximity to the world trade routes and admirable aviation approaches, has unrivalled meteorological advantages. The only outstanding claim on behalf of Wellington was its central position and the facility it supposedly offered for distribution, but this advantage is more apparent than real, and in the case of the projected transtasman aerial service it is no advantage at all, as an important factor in the service will be through traffic for passengers and mails connecting up with the Pan-American transpacific aerial link at Auckland. It would be uneconomic and pointless to have the transtasman aerial terminal situated at such a distance from the transpacific aerial terminal. Also from the point of view of tourist shipping traffic Auckland has long since functioned as the stepping-off mark mark because of the avoidance of duplicated travelling which would result from initial landings at Wellington.” The Mayor added that when it came to selecting the terminal for an important air service it was impossible to conceal the chilly fact of Wellington's weather disadvantage. "Unhappily,” Sir E. Davis said, "there is a tendency on the part of Wellington to be greedy. It has the seat of Government, it is the centre of civil service life and handles more shipping than does Auckland, but, after the manner of Oliver Twist, it is always returning for more, and with little or no justification for an additional helping.” The Mayor proposes to call a conference at an early date to represent to the Government Auckland’s case and to ask that its claim be judged on the facts as they exist and not upon unsupported generalisations.

"K comes as a very unpleasant shock to me that an attempt is being made in Wellington to revive the allegations of cheap parochialism,” said Mr. W. R. Fee, president of the Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. "However, if it is necessary lor Auckland to press its claims, I can assure citizens tnat the Chamber of Commerce will not be found wanting. It will come as a surprise to most people to realise that a serious attempt is being made to shift the Vancouver shipping service to Wellington on the grounds that the Matson ships call here.”

Mr. Fee added that so far as the transtasman air service was concerned no action had been taken to press the claims of Auckland, ft was thought that the selection of the terminal was a matter that could only be decided by expers, but it was obvious that Auckland's claims speak for themselves to such an extent as to bring an undignified outburst from Wellington. It was most regrettable that these matters would have to be approached in this undesirable manner, but the attitude of certain public bodies in Wellingon left no option in the matter.

WELLINGTON’S REPLY QUESTION OF TRANSPORT TERMINAL [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Oct. 18. Replying to the statement of the Mayor of Auckland, Sir Ernest Davis, regarding Wellington’s claims for consideration as a terminal lor the overseas air and shipping services, the Mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said the question of Wellington s suitability lor handling and mooring flying-boats could not be established by controversy or any series of claims and counter-claims, but by the considered opinion of experts. He was quite sure Wellington would abide by their decision. All that Wellington asked was that tne question of the terminal of the transtasman air service should be considered judiciously with an eye to the interests not of any city or any port but to the best interess of an New Zealand.