AIR STRIPS IN BACK COUNTRY

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 4

AIR STRIPS IN BACK COUNTRY

INFORMATION FROM MINISTER OF WORKS “I would advise that this is really a matter fbr the civil aviation authorities,” said the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) when referring to air strips in the back country, in a letter to Mr J. Acland, M.P., read at' a meeting of the Ashburton County Council. The letter added: “Before referring to the matter further, however, I would suggest that the county clerk be advised to supply details as to the localities which it is considered should be sensed and as to the, availability of suitable sites “For the information of county officials, it may be stated that an area giving -one or more strips (according to the distribution of wind directions) each at least 600 yards long by 100 yards wide, would be required. The grade along the strips should not exceed one in 66, and the surface should be free from major inequalities in order to reduce construction costs. Approaches to the field should be clear on a gradient of one in 20. From these particulars, the county engineer could perhaps select suitable sites which could later be inspected by technical experts of the Civil Aviation and Public Works Departments. “In establishing emergency fields in remote localities, the usual arrangement. is for the owner of a suitable site to make the land available for use at a peppercorn rental and to agree to abstain during the term of the agreement (say, 10 years) from ploughing or cultivating the area. The owner would be free to graze the land. The decision as regards the establishment of emergency air strips and the contribution, if any, by the Government toward the construction of such strips, rests with the Minister in Charge of Civil Aviation, and, in order that a full investigation may be made, the council should submit to the Controller of Civil Aviation all available information.”

The council decided to supply this information to interested settlers.