AIR PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1937, Page 14

AIR PROGRESS

EFFECT WILL GROW

"CITY MUST HAVE A PLACE"

WORK AT RONGOTAI

"In overseas countries air travel and air-mail communication arc taking a more and more important place in business and everyday affairs; air travel is. really only beginning in New Zealand, but its effect- is bound to grow, and particularly will this be so when air services reach New Zealand from overseas. It is essential that, Wellington shall have a place in the main air plans, and that place can be assured if Wellington offers full facilities," said the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, today when speaking of the Rongotai aerodrome item of the loan proposals to be put before ratepayers later this month.

Though Wellington has taken steps early in the day, as compared with other centresj to establish a city aerodrome, the topographical difficulties were much greater than had to be overcome elsewhere, and consequently other centres, witii more favourable natural conditions, had moved ahead more rapidly. However, the gradual advance which had been made at Rongotai had completely transformed the one-time waste area to a usable if still tdo small aerodrome, not for present machines, but for those which will be operated in the near future. THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFER AND CONDITION. "It is essential if Wellington is not to be left behind in matters of aviation that this airport should be completed with the least possible delay. To complete the aerodrome in a form to meet the needs of the city is estimated to cost £140,000, of which the Government is very generously offering £70,000. That offer is not an unconditional offer; it is made on the understanding that the city of Wellington will also find £70,000." The location of the aerodrome at Rongotai had received the fullest consideration, said Mr. Hislop. The site was originally chosen by a committee representing the best technical advice which could be obtained within the Dominion, both from the point of view of aviation and the point of view of engineering difficulties likely to be met with. This committee was under the chairmanship of Mr. F. W. Furkert, then the Engineer-in-Chief of the •Public Works Department, and included the Director of Meteorology and the Director of Air Services. They were unanimous in their conclusion that Rongotai was the best potential aerodrome for Wellington, and the next best was to be found some forty miles out at Waikanae or Paraparaumu. They had recommended that this second aerodrome should be developed as an emergency ground for scheduled flights. OPINION CONFIRMED. "Just recently Wing-Commander Hepburn, Aerodrome Adviser to the Australian Government, while on a visit to New Zealand, was invited by the Government to express his views regarding the suitability of Rongotai as an aerodrome for Wellington," continued Mr. Hislop. "He examined in detail, both from the air and the ground, the possible alternative sites to Rongotai, and as a result of his investigations supplied a report to the Government endorsing in toto the recommendations made by the original committee, "It is not suggested that Rongotai is an aerodrome which can be considered as ideal, but in its completed form it will certainly fulfil the aviation needs of Wellington city and will enable scheduled flights to be maintained with a minimum of risk and a minimum of interruption. "Perhaps its greatest advantage is its proximity to Wellington. In a country where the scheduled flights are of short duration, this is of paramount1" importance. "At the present time the most successful air-line in New Zealand is operating from Rongotai, and it is carrying about 12,000 passengers per annum across Cook Strait, and this with the aerodrome in its uncompleted condition. If, however, the proposed improvements are put in hand and an emergency ground provided at Paraparaumu, the whole complexion of the air traffic problem so far as Wellington is concerned would be altered. "The improvements would enable the Main Trunk passengers to come direct to Rongotai, instead of Wellington being condemned to be served .by a feeder service only. This, for Wellington, would be a most unfortunate affair indeed. If cities wish to be included on main air routes, it is essential that they provide ample aerodrome capacity before asking- companies to risk machines costing up to £18.000." NATIONAL OR LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY? Mr. Hislop then spoke of the very important aspect of the proposal: that is the question whether the work of completing Rongotai is a national or a local responsibility. "The answer which ratepayers will give when they ask themselves this question will probably determine the way in which they will vote," said Mr. Hislop, "but it is not a question to be answered offhand. "It really resolves itself into a decision as to who will reap the benefit from the completed development. From the point of view of the maintenance of trunk air services so far as the Dominion of New Zealand is concerned, a service can be maintained by running a route the length of the Dominion and feeding from subsidiary aerodromes near centres of population, as is in part being done today. The, inclusion-of Wellington on a trunk line is therefore mainly a matter for Wellington itself. "So far as defence is concerned, Rongotai is not suitable as a military aerodrome and is useful only as a training ground for the .organisation which could be adapted for military purposes in times of emergency. There already exists at Rongotai sufficient organisation to warrant the statement that further expense by the Government in this connection is not required. TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT. "It may be contended that the national interest may be regarded as made up of Rongotai's value as a feeder port to supplement the recognised air routes along the at present more easily-flown lines and its value in providing organisation for the Royal Air Force in time of war. For this the Government is prepared to contribute the sum of £70,000 towards the completion of the aerodrome. This is certainly a very generous estimate of the value of the aerodrome as a whole. We contend that the future of Rongotai is far greater than this, for Wellington people are vitally interested in keeping the Capital City as a port of call on the main traffic air lines ol the Do-

minion. The general importance of air traffic is scarcely recognised at the present time, but the indications are that we are very soon to experience a tremendous growth in this mode of travei. THE WORK PROPOSED. "The forvn of the construction required to cjmplete the aerodrome consists in finishing the removal of the top of Moa Point and in depositing the material so obtained in the sea in the form of reclamation," said Mr. Hislop. "Doubts have been expressed from time to time as to the reclamation being able to withstand the onslaught of the southerly seas. The facts are that the reclamation does not have to withstand the full onslaught of the southerly. Most of it will be in a few feet of water only and the whole of it will be sheltered by the extensive reef of rock which here runs out to sea in prolongation of the Moa Pcint ridge. "Furthermore, it should be borne in mind that the designs of the City Council's engineers will be checked and rechecked by the Harbour Board, the Marine Department, and the Local Government Loans Board before being approved for construction. It is hardly likely with this advice available that any form of construction will be proceeded with until it is established that its completion will be successful.

"In conclusion, it can be safely assumed that aviation has come to stay. It.will soon be as much a part of our national life as_the trains which carry us within and the ships which transport us without the Dominion. This much is definite. Wellington has only one location suitable for an airport and must utilise this to its fullest natural advantage. It has served her well in its uncompleted form over the last twelve months; and it will serve her much better, when completed, for very many years to come. There is no evidence whatever to the contrary.

"Wellington must prepare for the growth of aviation by developing Rongotai to the full; now—with the assistance of the Government —or later —by itself, and entirely at its own cost. The Government wishes to give the city £70,000, or half the cost of the full develpmcnt. The city should accept this offer gratefully and speedily. It may never get another and assuredly it will never get a better."