NEW AIR SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 146, 16 March 1939, Page 10

NEW AIR SERVICE

Wellington To West Coast Daily

INAUGURAL FLIGHTS Big Reduction In Travelling Time Travelling time from Wellington to Westport was reduced from about 20 hours to one hour 55 minutes when a daily flying service to the West Coast was inaugurated yesterday by Cook Strait Airways. Formerly Westport was not served by an air service and a trip from Wellington entailed a 10-hour sea journey and approximately nine hours’ travelling in a service car. Residents of Greymouth and towns in South Westland will also benefit by the new service, as hitherto the Cook Strait Airways’ machines have called at Greymouth only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

It is thought probable that the daily aeroplane service will reflect favourably on business in Wellington. Many years ago most of the Westport firms transacted business in Wellington, but with the introduction of an early morning service car to Greymouth to connect with the Christchurch express business swung away from the capital city. Westport men who were interviewed yesterday said that there would now be a trend for more work to bq done with Wellington firms. Tourist trade —an important activity on tlie-West Coast—is also expected to benefit considerably.

The first machine to fly to the new timetable left Rongotai with a full load at 7.35 a.m. and arrived at Nelson at 8.20 a.m. Passengers there ehanged to another machine, which took off at 8.45 a.m. for Westport, arriving at 9.30 a.m. An aeroplane also flew from Nelson to Westport with, officials of Cook Strait Airways and Union Airways as passengers. Those who made the journey were Messrs. N. S. Falla (chairman of directors of Union Airways), 11. C. Cock (chairman of directors of Cook Strait Airways), E. H. Thomson (managing director of Cook Strait Airways), G. Bolt (chief pilot and technical adviser to Cook Strait Airways), K. IL Jones (traffic superintendent for Cook Strait Airways), and J. Newman, W. Rogers and 11. R. Duncan (directors of Cook Strait. Airways). Mr. J. Kilkenny, mayor of Westport, was a passenger from Wellington to Westport.

Welcomed by Large Crowd.

There was a large crowd on the Carter’s Beach Aerodrome to meet the machines when they arrived at Westport. Among those present were representatives of ail forms of transport operating on the West Coast, as well as members of local bodies.

“We feel we are now placed commercially in the same position as other parts of New Zealand,” said Mr. D. J. Archer, chairman of the Buller County Council, welcoming the visitors. “It is now possible for a person to leave Westport at midday and arrive at Auckland at 6 o’clock in the evening. It is easy to understand the benefit which an air service can bestow on the people. The people of this district hope that the. air service will be entirely successful and free from accident.”

Mr. Archer said that it was very pleasing to see Mr. Falla present, as lie was a former Westport boy, and known to most of those present. He expressed appreciation of the work which the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, and the member for the district, Mr. Webb, had done in helping to provide an aerodrome at Westport. Mr. Kilkenny said that Westport was luckv in having an air service, and he. was sure that it would have the success it deserved. The magnificent strides that bad been made in transport recently demanded ' that the district should keep pace with it. During the last few years the district seemed to be coming into its own. probably because of tlie efforts Mr. Webb bad made to put it on tlie map. He had received telegrams from the Minister of Defence. Mr. Jones, and Mr. Webb wishing the service success and regretting that they could not be present. Mr. J. 11. Greenwood, president of tlie Westport Aero Club, said that it had been very difficult to secure a suitable lauding ground and many sites had been chosen and then condemned. Finally a site at North Beach had been chosen.' but unfortunately after much work in preparing the ground they had been . told that it was not suitable for Cook Strait Airways’ machines. Though the present landing ground at Carter’s Beach had only one runway- it was only a matter of time before there would be a full-sized aerodrome. fl'lie club would would do anything possible to foster the interests of the district and the service. A Good Omen. "Tlie conditions this morning were beautiful ami we hope that it will be a good omen for the success of the service,’.’ said Mr. Cock. Though his compa nw had been flying for only 7 three years it had been closely connected with Westport in other forms of transport through its constituents. They were the Anchor Shipping Company, the Union Steam Ship Company, and Newman Brothers. The idea that the Anchor Company would eventually go into tlie air was not new. As far bad: as 1909 steps had, been taken to deal in aeroplanes, motor-cars and submarines. He himself had a long connexion with the Anchor Company, his father having become sole proprietor in the ’sixties. There was present on tlie aerodrome a former purser of tlie company in those days. Mr. Kogers.

The company's machines were British. multi-engined and the personnel and organization were of the highest class. The company's motto was “Safety First.'' So far Hie venture bad not been profitable, but he hoped it would be soon.

Mr Falla said it was very pleasing to return to his home town on the occasion of its first regular connexion with other centres by air. Forty years ago there were steamers which took 18 hours to reach Nelson, provided the weather was fine He congratulated Cook Strait Airways on the extension of their service and the success which they had so far had. The machines left on the return journey at noon and connected with the 1.30 pan. plane from Nelson, which arrived at Rongotai at 2.15 pan. Mr. L. Taylor was the pilot from Wellington to Nelson in the morning and Mr. McGill on the return from Nelson. Messrs. A. T. .Orchard and K. R. Johnston piloted the machines from Nelson to the West Coast.