TASMAN AIR PORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1936, Page 7

TASMAN AIR PORT

AUCKLAND CLAIMS UPHELD HAROLD GATTY’S OPINION [PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.] • AUCKLAND, November 14. Auckland is the logical air port for the Tasman service. This is the considered opinion of Harold Gatty, representative of Pan-American Airways, and the Douglas Aircraft Company, who is a through passenger on the Monterey for Honolulu, whence he will fly to ’Frisco. “Auckland is the logical terminus for planes coming eithei* from Australia or America, not because of its merely physical conditions, because any part of New Zealand can be made safe for landing, but because the route to Auckland is shorter. Auckland has all the advantages and a nearer natural traffic route for the Pacific crossing.” Discussing the proposed Tasman service, Mr. Gatty said the Governments concerned had not yet given a decision, but it need not be long before the establishment of the service. The distance of only 1400 miles was 1000 miles shorter than the one-hop Pan-American planes made from Frisco to Honolulu. It was quite evident the Tasman service could be conducted without trouble, there being no difficulties so far as the operation of such a service was- concerned. Two radio compasses, one at Auckland and one at Sydney, with receiving and transmitting stations, would be required. “The problem of selecting a base at Auckland is not easy of solution, because there is no place where it can be said it is clear of all weather. There is no doubt that the Tasman crossings will bo commenced with flying boats, but what the future will hold there is no telling. It would be foolish for the Harbour Board to do anything more than inspect probable landing sites. One cannot treat an airport in the same way as a port for shipping, where the same typo of docks do for all vessels.’ ’

CLARK STARTS TO-MORROW. SYDNEY, November 13. Mr. L. E. Clark, has received reports that the weather over the Tasman is improving, but he is unlikely to off before Sunday. Advice has been received by the Greymouth Telegraph Department from the Director-General of Telegraphs (Mr G. McNamara), to the effect that Clark will leave Sydney tomorrow morning, for New Zealand. FRENCH SPEED-PLANES. (Recd. November 14, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, November 13. The Air Minister, M. Cot, has ordered the construction of three official aeroplanes for the New York—Paris air race in 1937, two with a maximum speed of 220 to 230 miles an hour, and the third of 280. Probably three other French planes will' also compete.