H—37

Aircraft used for the operation of services on these routes were — Lockheed Lodestar .. .. .. 4 Lockheed Electra .. .. .. .... 4 D.H. 89b Dominie .. .. .. .. .. 6 Total .. .. ..14 This represents an increase of nine over the total number of aircraft operated byUnion Airways of New Zealand, Ltd., and Cook Strait Airways, Ltd., during the year ended 31st March, 1946. The Gisborne-Palmerston North service was extended to Gisborne-Wellington (via Napier and Palmerston North) on the 3rd September, 1946. The following new services were inaugurated during the year Auckland-Wellington (via New Plymouth and Palmerston North) on 2nd September, 1946. Auckland-Grisborne (via Tauranga) on 20th January, 1947. Auckland-Kaiataia (via Whangarei and Kaikohe) on 20th January, 1947. The following service was operated by Air Travel (N.Z.) Ltd., under charter : Route .. .. .. .. Nelson-Hokitika. Route-miles .. .. 163. Frequency .. .. .. Once daily in each direction (except Sunday). Traffic statistics for year ended 31st March, 1947, were— Hours flown .. .. .. .. .. 1,050 Miles flown .. .. .. .. .. 130,179 Passengers .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,750 Freight (lb.) .. .. .. .. .. 22,472 Mail (lb.) .. .. .. .. .. .. 18,511 Passenger-miles .. .. .. .. .. 302,453 Freight ton-miles .. .. .. .. .. 1,054 Mail ton-miles .. .. .. .. .. 1,044 The following licences were held at 31st March, 1947, by New Zealand National Airways Corporation staff: — " B " Licence .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 Navigator's Licence — First Class .. .. .. .. .. 1 Second Class .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Radio Telegraph Operators' Licence — First Class .. .. .. .. .. 2 Second Class .. .. .. .. .. 3 Third Class .. .. .. .. .. .. 46 Radio Telephone Operator's Licence .. .. 5 Flying Instructor's Authority .. .. .. 4 Aircraft Engineer's Licence.. .. .. .. .. 36 (2) Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd. Apart from the Nelson-Hokitika service operated under charter for New Zealand National Airways Corporation, Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., operated the following services :

16

Route. Routemiles. Frequency. Hokitika-W eheka Hokitika-Okuru .. .. 84 135 Once daily in each direction (except Sunday). Twice weekly in each direction. Total 219