SOCKBURN AIRDROME

Evening Star, Issue 20993, 6 January 1932, Page 12

SOCKBURN AIRDROME

— SIR H. MIGRANTS ADDITIONAL LAND GIFT [Special to thb ' Star.’] CHRISTCHURCH, January 5. ' Partly because the additional land, will bo very valuable as an addition to the landing ground, and partly because; it means there is no fear of the erection of buildings so close to the airdrome as to interfere with thq ap-' proaches, Sir Henry Wigram’s gift to 1 the Government of old Plumptou Park at Sockburn is welcomed by the New Zealand Air Force. While the present airdrome is a very good one, it is not; as convenient as it might bo in Cert., tain winds, and the extra length that; can be obtained will bo useful to pilots; especially if they are flying heavier: types of machines in these winds. Hath, Plump ton Park been included in thq-' airdrome in 1928, there -would have hcCi}'. no need for the Southern Cross to gb~. to Blenheim to find a ground from-' which it would be perfectly safe to, s take off with a full load. v'" Before the whole of the new Govern;- > ment ground can be used as a landing" ground a good deal of levelling will" have to be done, as there is one ddop hollow that runs right across the park:' Tho concrete foundations of the old grand stand will also have to be removed. The part of the ground which will be most useful, however, would take comparatively little preparation. The airdrome at present has a long, narrow arm of ground extending down the side of the park. If enough of the new ground could he taken in to square this off, it would he a vast improvement. It was suggested to a reporter to-day that the levelling of part at any rate of the park might with advantage be carried out by unemployed labour. The Government was hardly likely, it was thought, to spend a great deal of money on the airdrome, but it might take advantage of the opportunity of giving some of the unemployed work that would not be wasted.

At present the Canterbury Aero Club leases several acres of ground on generous terms from Sir Henry Wigram, and on this section has erected its building, using the main part of the airdrome as its flying ground. It is not known what the position of the club will be now, though it is understood that its agreement with Sir Henry has two or three years to run.