AERODROME WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 12

AERODROME WORK

A CHAIN OF FIELDS

PRESENT DEVELOPMENT

Reference to the Government's policy so far as aerodrome development is concerned, is made in the Public Works Statement, which was tabled in the House. of Representatives this afternoon by the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple).

"During the year," said the Minister, "considerable expansion has taken place in this side of my Department's activities, and a special branch has been established to work in conjunction with the Civil Aviation and Air Services branches of the Defence Department. In consequence of the quickened public interest and demand for airtransport facilities and the development of the Air Force stations at Hobsonville and Wigram, much more rapid development of aerodromes, and emergency landing fields.has been proceeded with than was originally contemplated.

"During the year air services were placed in operation on the main air trunk route between Palmerston North and Dunedin and across Cook Strait from Wellington to Blenheim and Nelson, in addition to the air services already in operation between Gisborne and Napier, and on the West Coast of the South Island. Further extensions to these services are contemplated in the near future.

"The development of aerodromes and emergency landing. grounds is being primarily concentrated to provide a chain of fields along the air routes which are either' already in operation or shortly to be commenced. Forty aerodromes or landing grounds were actually under construction during the year, and constructional proposals are under consideration for an additional sixty or seventy fields. Work was provided on aerodrome construction for a maximum number of 2400 men, who might otherwise have been engaged on less productive work.

"Much of the greater portion of the expenditure to cover this work was made available from the Unemployment Fund, and a total of £202,860 was expended from this source. In addition, £3464 was expended from the Consolidated Fund to cover the provision of tools, plant, materials, and overhead, £79,581 from Defence Department funds (including the £5000 Civil Aviation vote), and an additional £4854 from the Public Works funds, most of which is recoverable."