PRIVATE CONTRACTS FOR COOK STRAIT AIR FREIGHT SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 September 1950, Page 5

PRIVATE CONTRACTS FOR COOK STRAIT AIR FREIGHT SERVICE

PARLIAMENT BLDGS, Last Night (PA).—The Railways Department is to call tenders for private air undertakings for the operation of Bristol freighters or other suitabel type of freighter aircraft on a charter basis fo the conveyance of good consigned through the Railways Department’s rail-air service. This is in accoradnce with the Government’s decision, said, the Minister of Railways (Mr. Goosman) tonight He said the maintenance and expansion of the rail-air service were considered essential both in the interests of proper North-South Island transport and as an economic booster for the Christchurch-Picton line. The additional revenue gained to this line by the rail-air service last year was at least £30,000 and, with the expected expansion, this service could go a long way toward eliminating the annua] loss on the line. The Minister said that traffic on the rail-air service had increased steadily since it began in February, 1947, but the rate of increase had quickened considerably during recent months.

In the last financial year, the service carried 9900 tons and flew 2917 ! trips between Paraparaumu and Woodbourne. For the four weeks ended on July 22, 1200 tons were carried and 370 trips flown, which was equivalent of 15,600 tons and 4810 trips a year, and the flow of traffic was still increasing. “Unfortunately,” said Mr. Goosman, “the Dakota service at present being supplied is not sufficient to cope with this increased traffic. Congestion is occurring and on two occasions in recent months acceptance of goods for this service had to be interrupted while the accumulations of traffic were cleared. These interruptions will continue and become more an(| more frequent unless urgent action is taken.” Additional Dakota aircraft on night flying would not provide a permanent solution to the problem because the Dakotas, while an excellent aircraft for some purposes, were not. specially designed for freight handling. They required undue time and labour for the preparation of loads, loading and unlading. There was need for an aircraft specially designed for freight work which would enable greatly increased traffic to be handled with much less labour. Because of the urgent problem presented by the growth of traffic, it had been decided to call tenders immediately both in New Zealand and overseas. Some time must elapse before the contract could be finalised, but every effort would be made to have the new freighter aircraft operating at the earnest possible moment.