AVIATION ON WEST COAST

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21686, 21 January 1936, Page 10

AVIATION ON WEST COAST

Cham of Aerodromes "Under Construction

REMOVING BARRIERS OF ISOLATION [From Our Own Reporter.] WEHEKA, January 20. As important a public work as any that is being done on the West Coast to-day is the establishment of a chain of landing grounds for aeroplanes. The undertaking, which will eliminate the handicap of isolation that has checked the proper development of Westland, is under the control of the Public Works Department, associated with the Department of Civil Aviation and the Unemployment Board, which is providing the money. From Westport to the far south of Westland 14 grounds are being prepared, and it is proposed to start work soon on five or six others.

Those who knftJw the nature of the country over which aeroplanes will travel when these grounds are finished can best appreciate the value of the work. South of Weheka, the terminus of the main road, the only method of communication settlers have had until recently has been provided by tracks. The isolation, in cases of sickness, has been a danger, for there is one stretch cf country through which it is possible to go only on foot, but since Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., be"gan operations about a year ago the danger has been minimised. On some of the grounds work was begun two years ago, and it is estimated that the chain will be finished within another year.

The West Coast has been ahead of other districts in New Zealand in the development of aerodromes for some years. The Canterbury Aero Club began the work, and it was followed by its former pilot-instructor, Mr J. C. Mercer, now managing director of the company, which operates throughout Westland. Mr Mercer picked out several sites, and with the assistance of settlers, at Haast and Okuru particularly, did valuable work in preparing landing grounds. Later the Government ; took an interest in the" ■work and assisted the settlers to provide facilities for aeroplanes. Growth of Traffic That good use of these facilities is being made is shown by the recent returns of Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd., which indicate an astonishing growth in the volume of traffic, consisting of the carriage of goods, passengers, and mails. More recently developments have been assisted by the Unemployment Board working in conjunction wirh the Department of Civil Aviation and the Public Works Department, the aim being to provide all weather grounds all down the coast. The first development aimed to provide facilities for smaller aeroplanes such as the Fox Moths being used by 'the company, and the machines owned by the club. The proposal now is to increase the size of some of the grounds, particularly' at Greymouth, Westport, Hokitika, and also at Wataroa, Haast, and Okuru, so that they will be of sufficient area to take the big commercial machines that have recently commenced to operate. A considerable time was taken to begin the work at Greymouth because of the failure of negotiations about a site, but these difficulties were smoothed out and there are about 100 men doing very good work in constructing grounds. The work at Westport and Hokitika is going ahead well. At Westport the main development has been completed, but the stabilisation of the surface of the landing ground is still necessary, the difficulty so far having been to get grass to grow on the sandy soil. About 150 men are engaged at Hokitika, •where one main job has been the diversion of Fisherman's Creek so that part of it can be filled with soil, thus extending the aerodrome. It is necessary to make a new outlet for this creek, and when the job has been finished there will be no more flooding of the landing ground such as happened a few days ago. Flights to Glaciers The landing ground that had been made at Inchbonnie has given improved facilities for people coming from Christchurch by train. The condition' of this ground allows passengers to be taken from there direct to the glaciers, thus eliminating the long journey by cars or rail, and saving time that would otherwise be spent at Hokitika. Landing grounds are also being constructed at Wataroa, Waiho, and Weheka, and they will be suitable only for small machines, and extension will be necessary when larger aeroplanes are operating along the coast. To serve"-about 100 men employed in timber milling at Bruce Bay a ground has been prepared there. Its area will be increased as soon as certain difficulties about obtaining the neces sary land have been overcome. The establishment of another ground is being coritemnlated -at Karangarua, where passengers who wish to traverse the Copeland Pass may be set down or picked up. This ground will also benefit settlers in the district. Further south, the size of the grounds at Haast, Nolans, and Okuru is being increased, so that they may be available in all weathers and so that larger machines may land. Investigations are also being made with the object of making grounds at Ikamatua, Maruia, and Harihari. There are also two grounds in the far south of Westland at Arawata and Landsborough on which a small amount of work has been done for the benefit of prospectors, deer stalkers, and tourists, and small aeroplanes have been making good use of them. The departments in charge of the construction of the grounds have been given valuable help by most of the settlers, who have realised what benefits can come to them through the removal of the barriers of isolation. The Government has had to buy no land for these grounds. It has all been given by the settlers, and in some instances the settlers have put the areas into order.