TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 264, 3 August 1929, Page 7

TRANSPORT PROBLEMS

WAIRARAPA PROPOSALS SUPPORT FOR AERO CLUB Masterton, August 2. Several recommendations were placed before the Wairarapa Progress League at its meeting this afternoon by the Transport Committee, They were: (1) That an aero club be formed in the 'Wairarapa. (2) That the league draw the attention of the Government to the Wairarapa Lake as a possible naval air base, and that the Defence Department be asked to send an officer to investigate its suitability as such. (3) That the league should advocate the retention of heavy traffic fees on the present scale without reduction. (4) That the Main Highways Board should take full responsibility for the reforming, consolidating and metalling ot that portion of the Masterton-iv eber main highway between Alfredton and Pongaroa, known as the “Summit Hill, and that the work be put in hand immediately. . Consideration had been given the coast route to Wellington; it appeared to be an exceedingly costly and difficult route and one that would add considerably to the length of the present road. The committee therefore had no recommendation to make. AH local bodies in the area had been circularised concerning the distribution of auctioneers’ fees, and the opinions of all bodies on the question had been obtained. Aero Club Discussed.

Dealing further with the aero club question, the chairman of the Transport Committee (Mr. R. Roydhouse) said that it was also considered that the area of the Featherston .Cainp should, if possible, be used as a landing ground. There was ample acreage, the only detriments being the number of stones on the ground and the close proximity of hills. It was thought, however, that it would be cheaper to remove the stones than to purchase new land, but the hills would require the investigation of an expert. A brief report was made on the league’s deputation’s visit to Wellington, when officials of the Wellington Aero Club and the Minister of Defence had been interviewed. The Wellington Club had promised co-operation in every way possible in connection with the proposed amalgamation of Wairarapa and Wellington, while the deputation had also heard an outline of aviation policy from the Minister, on the lines of previous utterances In a brief address, Major Iditt, ActingDirector of Aviation, covered some of the more important aspects of flying, dealing more particularly with club flying. I» was of primary importance, he said, to have the country provided with good landing places, both from the. point of view of defence and commercial flying, which in time to come would undoubtedly play a big part in transport problems Landing grounds were as important to aviatio'n as stations were to railroads. They meant money, however, and that was where the great difficulty was being met with. An area should be acquired with a runway of at least 400 yards, and if possible provision should be made for the extension of this to 800 yards. As far as the Wairarapa Lake or Featherston camp were concerned, he was unable to give any definite information, as both woufil require extensive investigation, especially the Wairarapa Lake, for in a seaplane base several features peculiar to seacraft had to be taken into consideration. Liability Reduced.

Mr. R. Roydhouse suggested that in n body of water 22 miles long and 21 miles wide surely an area suitable for a seaplane base could be marked out, but Major Isitt replied Hint it was a matter that only a survey could decide. Major Isitt proceeded to deal with the running costs of aero clubs, stating that it was generally accepted that the running cost of a elub was £3OOO per year. It had cost the first batch of pupils at the Auckland Aero Club £3O each to be trained as fliers, and it was his personal opinion that this amount was the minimum for which the necessary training could be given. As au offshoot to the Wellington Club he pointed out the liability of the Wairarapa Club would be considerably reduced. Mr. W. L. Free mentioned that the Minister of Defence had stated that he considered that two landing areas in the Wairarapa were necessary, oiie near Martinborough and one near Masterton, while Major Wilkes had pointed out a piece of land near Masterton that would form an excellent all-way landing ground. ’l’lanes could reach Martinborough in 15 minutes from Wellington, and could reach Masterton in 30 minutes. Perhaps an area in the northern Wairarapa would be required later, but at present he thought concentration should be ou one area only. Effect of Helicopter. Several technical questions, particularly with regard to power lines, were answered by Major Isitt, who proceeded to deal with the point ra.ised by Mr. Roydhouse as to the effect the helicopter would have on the future use of lauding grounds. There was considerable development required in this class of machine, he said, and a club would come out on the right side of the ledger if it made provision for as large a landing area as possible. It was pointed out by the secretary (Mr. 11. A. R. Dunderdale) that both the Minister and Major Wilkes had seemed to think that its Featherston military camp was out of the question ns far as a landing ground was concerned. After some father discussion, the league decided to strongly advocate the formation of an aero club in the YV airarapa as a branch to the Wellington dub, and to give every assistance possible.