PALMERSTON HAS GREAT FUTURE AS CENTRAL AIR PORT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6866, 22 March 1929, Page 9

PALMERSTON HAS GREAT FUTURE AS CENTRAL AIR PORT

Visiting Airman's Opinion AVIATION IN THE DOMINION IS BACKWARD, BUT PROGRESSING In comparison with. Australia and Canada, New Zealand is very backward in aviation matters Hut there is every indication that the awakening has come and that, with the formation of civil aviation clubs all over the country great progress will be made in the very near future. ♦

The above is the opinion of Captain CL L. Stedman, New Zealand representative of the Goodwin-Chieliestor Aviation Company, who is at present oil a visit to Palmerston North. In conversation with a reporter on Tuesday, Capt. Stedman expressed the opinion that the establishment of ciyil aero clubs in various centres throughout the Dominion was a move in the right direction, although at the same time every care must bo taken to ensure that such clubs were -properly controlled and had the requisite financial backing. Considerable harm was done to the progress of aviation generally, when a club was formed but failed for lack of finance. At present New Zealand appeared to be on the crest of an air wave. There was a general move to establish aero clubs, while the Government appeared to be doing everything in its power to assist progress. Slow at First. “Of course,” said Captain Stedman, “progress must necessarily be slow at first —you must crawl before you can walk. Aviation will not pay at first, but given time and enthusiasm it will piove an inestimable boon to the country. At present you are very backward here —if you realised the amount of flying that is being done in Australia and Canada, it would open your eyes, while in England and on the Continent, even the children can distinguish the make of a ’plane as easily as they can that of a car. “It must be realised that the time is coming when a town without an airpoi’t will be like a port without a harbour. For New Zealand there arc tremendous possibilities in aviation and the time has come for her to take advantage of them.” Landing Ground at Milson.

Captain Stedman stated that he had just returned from the Manawatu Aero Club’s landing site on Mr J. Linklftcr’s property at Milson. Ho had inspected the ground carefully and was of the opinion that it was excellently suited for its purpose, although at present the surface was in a rather rough condition and was, in consequence, dangerous to planes landing or taking off. However, with a little preparation there was no doubt that the club would have a splendid ground, large enough to take the big air-liners which would unquestionably form a part of New Zealand’s future air services. Palmerston North’s Future. The visitor had something to say about Palmerston North’s future as an air-port. “Palmerston North’s opportunity has come now,” he said, “for if this centre does not realise its opportunity it will be taken from it. Aviation matters are progressing fast in Auckland and Wellington, and when a North InlandSouth Island service is established, Palmerston North, providing that it has the facilities, will make an excellent stopping place. But Blenheim also has a flourishing club and it does not matter a great deal to a pilot whether ho breaks his journey in that town or in Palmerston North. It is for Palmerston North to move.” Palmerston North was admirably suited to the purposes of an air-port by reason of its central position, and Captain Stedman expressed the opinion j;hat in this direction a great future lay before tho town. Cost of Planes.

In reply to a question as to the present cost of planes landed in New Zealand, tho visitor stated that tho average price of a light machine was at prosent in the vicinity of £9OO. This price was no more than that of an expensive motor-car, while the running costs of a plane wero considerably less than those of a large automobile. As an instance, a light plane would consume about 3% gallons of petrol in an hour and in that time would travel anything from 70 to 100 miles. Reductions in the price of planes would undoubtedly come in the future, for the aeroplane industry was at present passing through tho same stages as those which had marked the growth of automobile manufacturing. With the tsandardisation of planes would come lower prices and every day these weie being brought nearer. Aeroplane manufacturing was a costly business for it entailed the most careful workmanship, the best of materials, and the most painstaking research. Only skilled men could be engaged and naturally these drew high salaries and wages. A Young Man’s Game. At the same time, Captain fcitedman pointed out that the present condition of aviation in New Zealand made dabbling in it, a rich man’s pastime. This position was more or less inevitable at present but it should be the aim of all aviation bodies and the Government to enable the country's young men to obtain experience in the air. At present, it was the younger men who were most enthusiastic about flying, for flying was a young man’s game, but in many cases, the expenses entailed prevented the eager recruit from gaining tho experience desired. "We must help young fellows to fly,” said Captain Stedman, "and they will be an asset to the country.” Passenger Flights. Captain Stedman is at present await-

ing an Avro plane which he expected to arrive from Masterton yesterday. With this machine ho wil undertake passenger flights during the next few days providing that a suitable landing ground can be found. At present, the captain is of the opinion that the surface condition of the Aero. Club’s ground is not in a proper condition for safe landing and taking off. In the event of no suitable ground being available, Captain Elcdman proposes to

flv the plane to Feilding where he will use tho race-course as a landing site for passenger flights. The piano which will be used is of an exactly similar pattern to that used by Bert Hinkler in his epoch-making flight to Australia.