"IN NEAR FUTURE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 237, 6 October 1936, Page 10

"IN NEAR FUTURE."

TASMAN AIR LINK.

FULL SUCCESS PREDICTED.

VALUE OF liONG RUNWAYS,

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

NEW PLYMOUTH, this day.

"You cannot have the runways too Ion?," said Captain E. C. Johnston, Controller of Aviation in Australia, when inspecting the New Plymouth Aerodrome yesterday. The visitor approved the plans for the extension of the aerodrome. The big danger, he stressed, was in spending a lot of money on an airport and then finding there was not enough room. Regarding the New Plymouth improvements Mr. Johnston commented that there was a great deal to be said for having hangars and administrative buildings as reasonably close to the centre of the field as possible. That idea was being followed in Australia, and the New Plymouth scheme coincided with his views of what an airport ought to be. The visitor made an aerial inspection of the airport. "I had not realised that you had done so much work here," he said afterwards. Referring to the trans-Tasman service, Mrj Johnston said he was not at liberty to reveal the result of the conference at Wellington, but said .he could give an assurance that the service would be commenced in the very near future. Despite many difficulties, he was sure Australian and New Zealand aviators were capable of tackling and overcoming them." With proper ground organisation he was convinced the service would be a success, and a success financially. Referring particularly to the financial side, he pointed out that the two countries had a great deal in common. Citizens of both would find the service a safe and speedy means of travel, and for that reason he predicted there would be a big demand.