Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1945

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 51, 23 February 1945, Page 4

Bay of Plenty Beacon Published Tuesdays and Fridays. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1945

THROUGH SERVECE

EAST COAST AIR LINK REQUEST TO COMPANY Just prior to the. meeting arranged in Gisborne by the Gisborne Borough Council as a deputation to Messrs D. W. Coleman and W. Sub* livan M.Ps., word was received that a provisional license had been granted to Union Airways for the resumption of the East Coast air service. Various organisations, were present at the meeting, which was presided over by Mr N. 11. Bull Mayor. A motion was passed expresing appreciation at the action of the Cabinet in granting a provisional license for the resumption of the Gisborne air service and a request that the operating company make the same provision throughout its trunk services for Gisborne passengers as is at present being made throughout New Zealand. Referring to representations which he had made from time to time to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Civil Aviation Mr Coleman said that it had to be remembered that times were not normal and'numerous difficulties had surrounded the resumption of the service. The delay, said Mr Sullivan, was a matter which concerncd the. Government .department. It was probably due to the Government deciding to i'ssue a license to Union Airways or to operate the service itself but the latest developments disposed of this point. There was no dovibt < he that if a suitable aircraft could be made available the service would be commenced in the very near future. the speaker emphasised the desirability of air transport services being inaugurated throughout the Dominion, and pointed out that after the war there would be opportunities for this such as had' never existed before.. He referred to . the isolation of Gisborne and the East Coast during many years, despite their wealth and importance, and expressed the hope that the service for which the people had been asking would be instituted at an early date. Answering a question, Mr Coleman said that the. Government had in mind stops at Opoti'ki and Taurarrga. It however entirely a matter for negotiation' with the company. The Mayor said' the company was not a philanthropic institution but operated the Service for profit. He was sure it. would do the best that was- consistent with good business. Mr Corson referred to an interview he had had with the Hon. F. Jones in Wellington on behalf of the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce. The Minister had advised the. Gisborne people to keep on asking or they would get. nothing. "There is only a limited number of things to go round and those who make the most noise must be given something to satisfy them s " he added, amid laughter.