WELLINGTON’S POSITION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25629, 19 October 1948, Page 6

WELLINGTON’S POSITION

Views of Sir Frederick Tymms OVERSEA AIRPORT QUESTION (P.A.) WELLINGTON. October 18. •‘Rongotai can be developed as an internal aerodrome and when that is done there will be no need for Paraparaumu,. except as an alternative,” said the leader of the United Kingdom civil aviation mission (Sir Frederick Tymms) speaking this evening m the Town Hall when the mission met representatives of the City Council, the Harbour Board, the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and other bodies to discuss air transport to and from Wellington. Sir Frederick Tymms had quoted requirements for aerodromes to serve international needs and had said it was obvious that Rongotai could never comply with them. While the capital cities might logically expect to be the terminal of overseas services, Wellington had certain difficulties it was not within the power of man to overcome. Wellington could only be served by flying-boat, said Sir Frederick Tymms, but it did not follow that a flyingboat service would be economic. There was ample water but there w r as a probability of strong or squally winds. There was the possibility of low cloud, as had occurred this morning, with the surrounding hills. The big flyingboats of to-day, such as the Solent or Sandringham, were not as affected by rough water as flying-boats of the past. Land Aircraft Favoured Such service was a matter that was receiving attention. Even if it were provided it was only likely as a special service for Wellington conditions, since the use of land aeroplanes for international services seemed to be the accepted practice. Sir Frederick Tymms said the suggestion that the terminals of international services should be airports as near to the geographical centres of the two islands as possible was at fault. Terminals must be at centres of populations. Population could not be ignored. Auckland must remain the population and geographical position for the terminal airport of Pacific air services. Christchurch had all the conditions second to none in New Zealand for an overseas airport. In the matter of internal services, however, Wellington had its spejial problems. No lower standard of safety for passengers should be considered but the aircraft most suitable for its conditions must be selected and a lower standard of regularity of service might have to be accepted. Replying to a question. Sir Frederick Tymms said the fact that when services were flown from Rongotai a hign percentage of regularity had been maintained without accident, could be put aside. The factor of safety for passengers might not have been so great as was desirable. He must endorse the decision that had been taken to close Rongotai.. No aerodrome there would be safe without a runway from sea to sea. Auckland-Wellington Service Services from Auckland to Wellington might be maintained by large flying-boats, he said. Small flyingboats in squally conditions would bring risks which would not be justifiable. Large flying-boats could operate quite safely after tests had been made, he thought, but whether they would be justifiable would depend on ari economic survey. Such a service could connect only the two points, * since neither Christchurch nor Dunedin had the water to take large craft, so that a landplane service would still remain necessary. The tv®?'services.; would then be in -direct cegHJeti.tiQDrbut it was a matter which was Joeing investigated by the National Airways Corporation. Ohakea was the best situated aerodrome in New Zealand, said Sir Frederick Tymms, when asked how it would serve as an overseas terminal, “but the Air Force wants it,” he said. ‘‘You must have an alternative landing place to your main airport, which, it is inevitable, at times must be unuseable. Ohakea is the main alternative, but no one would think of an overseas terminal at Ohakea if it is possible to land aeroplanes at Auckland or Wellington. It does not appear possible to do it at Wellington.” It might be that a site for an overseas terminal might be found in the Otaki area, but that was a matter for investigation. Welcoming the mission, the DeputyMayor (Cr. R. L. Macalister) said it was realised that Wellington’s air transport problem was probably much more difficult than that of many other cities, but it was hoped the mission would not set rigid standards but standards making allowance for the needs of the capital city, which Was the seat of the Government and the headquarters of a very large number of commercial organisations. It was hoped that the mission’s report when made would not be treated as a secret. Wellington’s airport was of serious concern to people throughout the Dominion.

“Many of us feel that failure to develop Rongotai, so vitally placed as it is in the Dominion network, has perhaps hindered aerial development in New Zealand by making it impossible to order the right types of planes until this vital link can be developed to use them.” Cr. Macalister said. He asked that the mission should consider recommending a triangular fly-ing-boat service between Sydney, Wellington. and Auckland, including also, perhaps. Melbourne.