BETTER EQUIPMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 245, 29 July 1936, Page 6

BETTER EQUIPMENT.

AERODROMES l!N NEW ZEALAND. PLANS BEING DISCUSSED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 28. Consideration is being given by the Government to the question of providing the most modern equipment at aerodromes for the safeguarding of aircraft. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), in an interview this evening, said that reports had been received from the departmental officers who had made an investigation of the landing ground equipment in Great Britain and other countries. “Some valuable information is contained in these reports,” said Mr Jones, “and proposals to give effect to certain recommendations have been prepared for final consideration by the Cabinet. It does not follow that New Zealand will be called upon to adopt all the latest appliances in other countries, especially where night flying is a common feature of commercial aviation. There is scope here, however, for the adoption of different methods of safeguarding aviation so far as landing are concerned. It is the intention of the Government to do everything practicable to keep abreast with aviation developments, and immediately the Cabinet has approved the plans, the work of providing better equipment at New Zealand landing grounds will be put in hand.” Th® Minister mentioned that the Government would require to give careful consideration to the question of control. It was obvious that if the State contributed large sums to the better equipment of aerodromes throughout New Zealand], it would be necessary to make provision for some form of Government control. This was a question that would have to be discussed by all the parties concerned. In the meantime the Government was going into the question with the full determination to make adequate provision for safety at aerodromes.