The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY JUNE 1, 1929 THE NEED FOR A LOCAL AIRPORT.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 10912, 1 June 1929, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED DAILY SATURDAY JUNE 1, 1929 THE NEED FOR A LOCAL AIRPORT.

The mishap on Waikanae Beach to tlm “Moth” on Thursday afternoon, even although the damage was not very extensive, represented an unfortunate- occurrence. Not hy anv stretch of the imagination can it he suggested that a beach is the most ideal landing place for any class of aeroplane". The fact that a beach is a public place should condemn it for use for such a purpose. But that is not all. A slight- miscalculation as to the strength of the wind might, at any time, result in very

serious consequences if a machine unfitted with floats were to land in the .sea, even if fairly close into the shore. The time has, indeed, come when much more serious attention .should be given to the matter of the; acquisition, of.at least one proper landing place here for planes, otherwise this centre will have the .misfortune to remain backward in the matter of development as an air-port. Unless -a suitable field in which- a- landing may be. made with .perfect .safety is provided,- it cannot be expected that even private owners of planes- will make- Gisboine a regular place of call. Tlie chances of regular air services to and from this centre, may, indeed, be regarded as even more remote if this district should continue to lack a suitable landing place. As is well-known,’ ox-

pert attention lias now been given to the' question of the suitableness of various areas in close proximity to the town. But the point as to how the acquisition of such an area is to bo financed has not yet been settled. For our own part, we are not convinced that the whole of the cost should ho borne locally. The Government, wo reckon, should subsidise any, such project and do so liberally. It cannot bo denied that, in tho near future, this Dominion will uossess an Air , Force suited to its yfeeds. That being so, proper hustling places which may be used m State- planes by night as well as Hiy day will he-required in connoctioiu with tho defence of Ibis country. In the circumstances, the Stale can hardly expect to lean on the proiuoters of civil aviation lor the use of landing places throughout tho Dominion. Let it ho hoped, therefore, that tho mishap to which attention has been directed may have tho effect of stressing, in still greater measure, tho need for prompt measures io ensure the setting apart of a suitable area near Gisborne for th e purposes of an air-port.