Commencing Saturday “The Double Problem"

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 105, 5 May 1937, Page 7

Commencing Saturday “The Double Problem"

[By Frances Brown]

Plans for Wireless Transmitter at Milson NEW BUILDING REQUIRED TO HOUSE BEACON As announced, in yesterday's “Times, ’ ’ an inspection was carried out a‘ Milson aerodrome yesterday morning by an expert of the Public Works Department, in the presence of representatives of the Palmerston North City Council, to determine a suitable site for erection by the department of radio transmitting apparatus to be used as an aid to aircraft. In company with Public Works department officials, Mr. Green, who is a member of a committee of three set > by the Government to further matters connected with the control of aviation, visited the aerodrome this morning and there conferred with the committee ap pointed by the council, Cr. «T. Hodgens, NLP., Crs. J. J. Stevenson, J. T. J. Heatjley and the city engineer, Mr. J. R. Hughes, and representatives of Milson Aerodrome (Inc.), Messrs. J. B. Smiuie | and K. G. Chamberlain. Mr. Green recently returned from a I visit to the United States, Great Britain and Europe, where he investigated modern methods of airport control. On his return he made a report to Cabinet and, as a result, an extensive outlay was agreed on to bring certain airports in New Zealand up to modern requirements. One of the subjects concerned is the installation of short-wave wireless to provide adequate communication, and another is the installation of radio beacons for direction finding by pilots. Spoaking of this morning ’a discussions, Mr. llodgens explained that it had been agreed that, provided airways services experts had no objection, tho committee, as members of the City Council, would not put any obstacles in the way of the wireless station ueing located on the land which will eventually belong to the council. Mr. GreeD had explained that there would be nother building required, to house the radio beacon apparatus which would need to be situated further afield, away from any mechanical interference, possibly three miles from the aerodrome. |lt was possible that the erection of the building would not be proceeded with for some 12 months or so. The proposal, said Mr. Hodgens, was for the wireless station to be on the south-eastern side of the Union Airways hangar, on an island formed by the road • which makes a loop there to allow . traffic to turn. The building itself would be 25 feet long by 12 feet 6 * inches wide and about 9 or 10 feet high. Tho masts for the aerial would also be situated on the “island.” Temporary masts were to be erected so that tho service would be in operation at the time of the inauguration of the Union I Airways service between Auckland and Palmerston North. Permanent masts 75 feet high were to be fabricated of treliscd work steel and they were at present on order from Canada.