AIR SERVICES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1930, Page 5

AIR SERVICES

PASSENGER AND FREIGHT.

A NEW ZEALAND VENTURE

AUCKLAND, Aug. 4,

A company to operate an aeroplane passenger service between Auckland and Wellington, and another service between Wellington and Invercargill, is now in the final stages of development in Auckland, and it is expected that the North island service will commence within two months. The company, which will be known as New Zealand Airways Boeing, Ltd., wilt have its headquarters at Wellington,' and will be financed entirely by New Zealand . capital. . Arrangements for the formation of the . company and the operation of the services are in the hands of Mr Bernard, factory representative of Boeing Aircraft of Canada, Ltd., of Vancouver, British Columbia, who is at present in Auckland.

Mr Bernard said it was hoped to have all-details completed within the next three weeks, when timetables and a scale of charges' would \ be -{announced. Unless there was some , unforeseen development; ' the, ‘ service should be in ’operation iwitKiii ieight' or nine weeks. He,'.explained that the company wiw ’asking .no’ subsidy from the Government;,- the venture being financed flud “Organised-purely' by private entbrprise• V/1f,./(iWyeyei’J•' the Government later .required service to carry mails, "ittwould’: /unf dertake to do so. \f' : ' • -•

“New Zealand is the most admirably suited country in the world for the use of flying boats, and for that reason the company will use eiich machines solely,” said Mr Bernard. “At present there are six Boeing flying boats already crated ready for shipment at Vancouver, pending the completion of arrangements here. The machines to be used are manufactured in Canada.

“The machines to be used by the company are flying boats of the eight passenger cabin type/ They have a cruising speed of 110 miles an hour with'! a full load, including; eight passengers, ' one /pilot,; : andf/f.5001!b of freight-. The machines will take off in 900 ft. They can use a river or a small lake. The .routes tio! be follow! ed are such that a machine in the possible event of a breakdown will always" be within gliding distahee of some, stretch of water sufficient to land. A THE SELECTED ROUTES.

“Starting from Wellington, the North Island route will be to New Plymouth, Auckland,. Gisborne, and back to Wellington. In the South Island the machines will fly from. Wellington to Nelson, Christchurch, IXiiiiediin, ahd Invercargill, coming back by the same route. In.the North Island route stops will, be.'/made Mat Palmerston North, Wanganui, Napier and Hastings - if' required, rind in the South’ Island the machines will , stop at Timaru and Oamaru if necessaryi If required a taxi serjjce wifl lbe run from Nelson to Westport and Greymouth, but it- is not proposed to include these two towns on the regular service at the outset. It is . proposed to make a return trip between Auckland and Wellington daily, and later td make two return trips each i day with both freight and passengers, weather conditions permitting. “The machines will run to a timetable, and it is hoped to make the trip from Auckland to Wellington in 3| hours, allowing for a 15 minutes’ stop at New Plymouth. Fully loaded the machines have a cruieing range of 000 miles, and therefore it is not anticipated that provision for refuelling will have to be made at any of the smaller stations. The matter- of fares has not yet been decided, but it is proposed to charge about £lO or £l2 return from Auckland jto Wellington. Each, passenger will be allowed to carry one suitcase with him. No arrangements for definite bases at various centres have been made, as the machines can land in the harbour and taxi up to the wharf. Launches will not be. required for taking passengers to -and from the ships, as they will be moored at some convenient wharf where the passengers can step aboard across the gangway.

“When the flying boats come to New Zealand they will be accompanied by four experienced Boeing pilot mechanic, two for flying and two for training other pilots, at flying schools which will be organised both inj Auckland and Wellington,” said Mr Bernard. “It is hoped to obtain in clue course commercial pilots from local pupils.” ;