MAYOR GIVES EVIDENCE AT LICENCING HEARING

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 62, 10 August 1965, Page 12

MAYOR GIVES EVIDENCE AT LICENCING HEARING

The Taupo Airport Authority would npt object to Spanz having sole rights to the scheduled services in and out of Taupo for a limited period, provided the matter could he reviewed when thought desirable. This was stated by the Mayor of Taupo, Mr J. E. Story, following a public hearing in Wellington of the Air Services Licencing Authority, last week. Mr Story was making submissions on behalf of the Taupo Authority in connection with the applications made by the company. The company was to be commended for the support it had given Taupo since the airport opened. The Taupo Authority was opposed to other aspects of the company's application, however. . Matters opposed were: The company having sole rights to and from Taupo in re-

spect of timetable and charter services. Taupo being treated as an optional stop on its scheduled services and the right to reduce services to 10 a week. Mr Story said it was considered the company had insufficient aircraft available to meet the needs of a sole rights charter and tourist service. There had been insu'fficient time, too, since the airport opened to truly assess the t.raffic pattern to and from Taupo. An optional stop would defeat the rights of a scheduled service and it was too early to consider reducing services from 12 to 10 per week. The decision of the Air Transport Licencing Authority on the applications will be announced at a later date.