N.Z. AIRPORTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 12397, 9 November 1934, Page 5

N.Z. AIRPORTS.

, NATIONAL WORK

THOUSANDS’ OF MEN MAY BE

ENGAGED

BETTER! CONDITIONS THAN NO. 5 SCHEME. .

CONTRACTS BASED ON 12/- A \ DAY.

STAND-DOWN WEEK ELIMINATED.

U? rcss Association.' WELLINGTON, Nov. 8

• An airport scheme of national dimensions, •in .advance of huge aviation developments expected in New Zealand in keeping with the progress in other parts of the ivorld during the next few years, lias been put under ivay on the basis of co-operation botween tlio Public- "Works Department, aero clubs, the Defence Department, local bodies, and the unemployed. A statement outlining tho Goi’crnlnent’s- policy in this connection ivas made today by tlic Dlinistcr of Delon cc.

•Thousands of men may bo engaged jvlien iilans are developed, and if the local bodies co-oppratc’ as some have already done, a. vevy large ‘number ol Uiieniploved will be able to earn'more money ivitliout any staiuldoAvn iveek. The Defence ' Department, ivitli the practical, assistance of Dir. E. A. Gibson, an engineer of the Public Works Department, is busy advising and supervising the actual 'laying-put of the dromes and emergency landing grounds in both islands.

Ninety airports, aerodromes - and landing grounds liaA’o been reported on, 28 surveyed, construction Avork commenced on. 21,, and, .improvements authorised on 23.

The Minister expressed tho opinion that the conditions under ivhicli unemployed labor Aims being utilised wore in every case more fai r orablc than those under No 5 scheme.

“The impression has been gained in some quarters,” Dir. Cobbe said, /that tlic contract system under Avhicli unemployed labor is used, causes individual hardship among the Avorkmen employed. This, the engineer reports, is disproved by the results on various Avorks so far undertaken. It is pointed out that in few localities lias No 5 scheme labor been in receipt of more; than 10/- per day, and this is usually with a stand-doAvn ireek. On the aerodrome work generally, the stand-doAvn iveek has been eliminated,' and tlic average rate on which contracts are based is raised to 12/- per clay.” Dir. Cobbe said the Govern months scheme' involved the construction of aerodromes, and emergency landing fields on the main and subsidiary air routes of the Dominion. It may not be possible on portions of those routes to provide landing fields 'at'.the proemployed labor, or lack of capital, finance or overhead expenditure in the use of that labor. “While the Governnient,” the DJinister said, “is 'anxious to-assist local authorities ivitli the establishment of aerodromes, financial - considerations will not permit of helping other than by the provision of surplus unemployed labor and the carry out of necessary surveys, and the prolusion of ' engineering meteorological and expert aviation ndi’iee.”