N.Z. Purchase Of T.E.A.L. Criticised By Chamber

Press, Volume C, Issue 29505, 5 May 1961, Page 14

N.Z. Purchase Of T.E.A.L. Criticised By Chamber

Although the agreement recently concluded provided for the purchase by New Zealand of Australia’s share in T.E.A.L., what New Zealand had really bought was a fleet of non-competitive aircraft, and Australia seemed to have got out of a bad bargain, said the chairman of the air services’ committee (Mr J Boyd Clark) in a report adopted by the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last evening. “In spite of the Minister’s apparent support and sincerity when the deputation visited Wellington, he apparently knew far more of the background of the proposed T.E.A.L. talks than he indicated, and had no intention of giving the deputation any information on this background,” said Mr Boyd Clark. “Although Qantas has the right to operate through Auckland. Wellington, and Christchurch in October this year, the agreement seems to indicate that they will not do so until 1964. when Mangere will be open and available.” The 1964 date was really pegged to the replacement date of the Electras—in other words, to give New Zealand a monopoly of Tasman traffic until it had received a protected return on what might be termed redundant equipment. “Unless some new and very relevant information can be provided, all we can assume is that the whole discussion and agreement have been centred on and hamstrung by the fact that the wrong aircraft have been bought, and any retrograde movement is being accepted to justify their use.” said Mr Boyd Clark. “If the tourist and air travel prestige of this country was really given its rightful consideration, then the businesslike attitude towards the matter would indicate an immediate use of Qantas and/T 8.0.A.C. and/or other jet lines through Harewood, and

the immediate replacement by the most up-to-date aircraft obtainable, so that we can hold our position without the shield of a protected monopoly. In a private business enterprise, no other course would be either tolerated or considered.” An endeavour was being made to bold a meeting at the airport between the Minister and representatives of interested bodies. The committee felt there was no reason whatever why Qantas should not be urged to arrange one Boeing 707 flight a week in each direction through Harewood. Should it be necessary for the runways to be extended, this could be done by October of this year, said Mr Boyd Clark, “The committee urges that pressure should continue to be exercised to obtain the diversion of one Qantas flight each week into Harewood to and from Europe and North America.” “Should we forget all about anyone else and suggest to the Christchurch City Council to go it alone?” asked Mr J. M. Hargreaves. “What about the £lOO.OOO for the town hall? We could use that money to put Harewood into order for jets.” It was not absolutely certain that extensions were required at Harewood to cater for some jets, said Mr Boyd Clark. However, the New Zealand standard for airports was very high. The next step would depend on the deputations meeting with the Minister at the airpoit. said the chairman (Mr R. H. Clark).