SEA PLANE BASE

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1946, Page 3

SEA PLANE BASE

AT CHATHAM ISLANDS Wartime Secret Disclosed p.A. WELLINGTON, Feb. 14. The existence of a seaplane base at the Chatham Islands, which had been constructed in the early stages of the war as part of the defensive strategy of New Zealand, if required, was revealed to-day by Mr. T. IT. McCombs, Parliamentary Undersecretary to the Minister of Finance, who returned to Wellington in a R.N.Z.A.F. Catalina flying boat from /a brief visit 1o fthe Chathams. These islands are in the Lyttelton electorate, which he represents in the House of Representatives. Mr. M. Ratana, M.P., whose electorate of the Western Maori, also embraces the Chatham Islands, accompanied Mr. McCombs on the trip. The Catalina left Auckland on Tuesday, the flight to the Chathams taking five and ahalf hours. The flying boat left the Chat hams seaplane base at Tewhanga Lagoon on its return flight at 10 a.rn. to-day, landing on Evans Bay at 1.10 p.m. Later it continued its flight to Auckland. In addition to Messrs McCombs anxL Ratana, the trip was made by officials of the Air Force and Public Works Department. Mr. McCombs said, in an interview this evening, that the object of the visit was to inspect a flying boat base constructed at the Chatham Islands during the war, and to discuss with the islanders the formation of roads in the islands, which, had no proper reading system. Discussions had taken place between himself, representatives of the Works Department, and members of the Chatham Islands County Council. Referring to the construction of the seaplane base, Mr. McCombs said that the day the equipment arrived at th£ islands, Magistrate Holmes called a meeting of all local residents, and suggested that they provide labour free of cost. They responded enthusiastically to this suggestion, and provided, without cost, the necessary cartage and labour for the erection oi eleven miles of telegraph wires, a number of buildings, and fences; also the'building of a jetty, and the laying out of the accessary marker buoys, and floats for the seaplane base. One of the local storekeepers had refused payment for stores that it had been necessary to purchase for the base. This war effort of the islanders was to be highly commended, and was much appreciated by the Government. Mr. McCombs said he hoped now that a seaplane base was at the Chathams, it would become possible to use it for a commercial scheme between the mainland and the islands.