CIVIL AERODROMES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 14, 17 July 1934, Page 8

CIVIL AERODROMES

PART OF NATIONAL SCHEME

SITES AT CHRISTCHURCH

Several areas aro'under'consideration by the finance committee of the Christchurch City Council as suitable sites for a municipal aerodrome- for commercial and private machines, the establishment of which was urged by the Government owing to the possibility of Wigram, which is really k military station, being required for defence purposes ' alone. . Tho possibility of using a city reserve for ..such an aorodromo is being considered, states the "Press/ but the whole- matter is still tho subject, of discussion between the committee, the city engineer, the superintendent of parks and reserves, and tho Public Works Department engineer .iftacliecl to the Defence Department for supervising aerodrome construction (Mr. E. A. Gibson). Messrs. Galbraith and Baniett will probably present, a report on the sites available to the finance committc-}, to whom Mr. Gibson has already explained the requirements of such' grounds. Extensive work has been carriefl out recently in the improvement of cxistiug landing grounds and the formation of new ones. The area of the landing ground at Wigram Aerodrome has been increased, and the whole ground levelled, and similar work will shortly bo done at the Hobsoiwiyc Air Base, Auckland.

The New Plymouth Airport Board is also enlarging the aerodrome under its control, it being considered, essential to have a large and ''well-appointed eround there, as New Plymouth will Drobably be the terminus of any aerial service between New Zealand and Aus- * ralia.

The- Gisbonie Borough Council and tho Napier City Council are also considering schemes for developing municipal aerodromes, and the Nelson Progress Lcacue now has a proposal under review. The Public Work's Department has lcpoi-fed to the Nelson Aero Chib that the quarantine reserve, now owner! by tho Defence Department, is the most, suitable area in the vicinity of Nelson, though it is expected that part of an adjoining farm would have to be taken in to elre sufficient area for commercial machines. .' ...t

jtfr. Gibson is making an aerial tour of the southern part of the South Island on business connected with the Government's plans for establishing emergency landing grounds for aircraft at suitable points, and also securing the co-operation of local bodies in making provision for aerodromes which will be suitable for use by commercial air services, i