COUNTRY VIEWED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22494, 25 November 1947, Page 4

COUNTRY VIEWED

SPECIAL AIRCRAFT FARMING COMMISSION Personnel of the Royal Commission into the sheepfarming industry in New Zealand had a preview of some of the country which will be the subject of their inquiry on Sunday, when they flew from Wellington to Whakatane, Opotiki and Gisborne and returned south. An Electra aircraft of National Airways was chartered for the day by the commission, the machine taking 10 passengers. Piloted by Mr. M. C. MacLeod, the aircraft took-oif from Palmerston North at 8 a.m., landing shortly afterwards at Paraparaumu. Members of the commission boarded the aircraft, which then proceeded north across Manawatu to Lake Taupo and then across to Whakatane, Opotiki, East Cape and down the East Coast to Gisborne, landing at Darton Field at 12.10 p.m. The route was not direct and a large area of country was viewed by the passengers portions of particular interest being circled by the machine. The visibility remained excellent throughout the day. After lunching at the Masonic Hotel, the commission again boarded the aircraft, which took-off at 1.48 p.m. for Wellington. The machine was to proceed south via an inland route, coming out to the coast again at Cape Palliser and landing at Paraparaumu at 4 p.m. after covering about GOO miles.