AIR SERVICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 234, 3 October 1935, Page 10

AIR SERVICES.

DEVELOPMENT PLAN. FORTY-FOUR AERODROMES. "SAFETY FIRST" PROPOSALS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Forty-four aerodromes and 00 intermediate emergency landing grounds arc provided for in the development programme for internal air services, according to a statement made in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Coates, in reply to a question asked by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot (Government, Waitoino). In the ease of overseas air services, said Mr. Coates, there was no occasion for the Government to do anything except to grant permission to operate and to establish facilities. In respect to domestic Hying services, however, the position was different in that very considerable financial provisions would be necessary. By the existing legislation the responsibility for the establishment of aerodromes rested with local bodies.

The general programme provided for the establishment of 44 aerodromes, and the Government itself would accept responsibility for the provision of (iO intermediate emergency landing grounds.

"In view of the possible considerable extension of aviation services, and the necessity for making flying as safe as it is possible to make it," Mr. Coates continued, "the Government recognises the desirability of establishing tho necessary facilities in the form of what is known as ground organisation, which includes, in addition to aerodromes and emergency landing fields, wireless telegraphy and wireless 'phones, radio direction finding equipment and meteorological reporting stations.

"As these service facilities are of general application, it would seem to be the function of the General Government to provide them.

"The Director of Meteorological Services and a technical expert of the Post and Telegraph Department are at present in England, with the object of investigating the most suitable equipment yfor use in New Zealand."