TEMPORARY LANDING GROUND VITAL

Northern Advocate, 12 February 1936, Page 8

TEMPORARY LANDING GROUND VITAL

Whangarei Must Be Linked In Aerial Way

“AVIATION SERVICES ARE SO X FLEXIBLE THAT THEIR COMING WILL REDUCE THE SIZE OF NORTHLAND PROVINCE TO THAT , OF A COUNTY RIDING.”

Railways Department concerning the alternatives of a deviation of a stream, and of stop-banking, and so far no finality had been reached.

Function of Local Bodies.

So said Mr E. A. Gibson. Government aerodrome engineer, today, when addressing a meeting of the committee -appointed by local bodies to secure a temporary landing ground for Whangarei.

Mr Gibson claimed that the provision of aviation facilities was just as much the function of local bodies as was the construction of streets. Pohe Island could only be regarded as a stop-gap, but unless a temporary ground was obtained there for use until the ground consolidated at Otaika, the district would lose the benefits of aerial communication for at least three years. Mr Ronayne, the Public Works Department district engineer, had stated that within a week of Pohe Island being made available it could be made ready for the landing of planes. Mr Gibson went on to deal with the urgency of provisiqn for aerial travel. He pointed out that on February 27 a terminal aerodrome would be opened at Waipapakauri, and that Whangarei should be one of the most important stopping places on the route north. Even machines working in New Zealand today would place Whangarei within 40 minutes of Auckland, at a fare of from £1 to 25/-, while planes were on the market which could travel from Auckland to Waipapakauri in 40 minutes and cut the fare - to about 30/-.

Mr Gibson made it quite definite that the only suitable ground in sight to fill the gap in aerial communication liintil the permanent ground at Otaika is available is Pohe Island, and the committee, after a fpll discussion, took further steps towards securing an area there.

At the commencement, the Mayor referred to the- fact that the Borough Council had been asked by the committee to go into the question of ac- , quiring land at Pohe Island, together with the probable cost. Disappointed. “Candidly, I am a little disappointed with the whole thing,” Mr Jones jcommented. “The engineers drew up Jjlans of a ground at*Pohe Island which would have carried us # gver the next three years, or so, and we then waited upon a valuation, from the Crown Lands Department, of the small farms '.affected' That has been made, but not disclosed to us, and we did not receive anything like a definite reply from the Commissioner , until last Satur- . day.”

“Auckland,” he continued, “is the present terminal of tourist traffic, much of which now goes abegging from Northland’s point of view. If you had the landing grounds available, there would be nothing to prevent people from the south now desiring to visit Northland from doing so by direct plane. The air opens up the whole of New Zealand to you.” Mr Gibson said that applications had been made for the chartering of planes for special trips from Auckland to the Franz Josef Glacier. Tourists, from visiting liners could breakfast in Auckland, and have morning tea at the Glacier, and aviation was developing and becoming-faster all the time. Brink of Revolution. “We are on the brink of just as great a revolution in travel as when the railways were introduced,” Mr Gibson said, “and adequate ground organisation is 90 per cent, of the battle.” Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay: “We cannot allow two small farms to stand in the way of the whole district where such an important matter is concerned. There is no reason why the settlers caiinot be compensated for three years without any great hardship. What Mr Gibson has said will help to educate the people as to the necessity for providing aviation facilities for the district.”

V The letter, which was read at the r meeting of the Borough Council on .’Monday night, stressed the point that -the Department of Lands, or the Small 'Farms Board was not in a position to .■compel the tenants to forego their 'rights, - and that the parties requiring ,Ihe. area should first approach the tenants.

never thought that these people, whose farms would be interfered with, would receive no compensation.” The Mayor: “It was never our intention to commandeer the properties. What we did want to know was the valuation of the properties, so that the local bodies would become aware of the possible liability involved.” Best Procedure. The town clerk said that he understood from a conversation with the Commissioner of Crown Lands that the expenditure by the Small Farm Board on the property of Taylor, that most affected, had been £332. Mr Trimmer ■ thought that the best procedure would be to take .land under the Public Works Act. While sympathetic with the farmers, he considered the provision of a landing ground of community importance, and in such cases individuals invariably had to suffer for the good of the whole. The Mayor attributed the delay partly to the uncertainty about the Otaika ground. There seemed to be an impression abroad that if Pohe Island were secured as a temporary ground it would become a permanent one, and that nothing further would be done in connection with Otaika.

Mr Mac Kay moved that the member for the district be asked to take the matter up with the Minister of Public Works, with the request that the position be put before the land purchase officer.

Mr Finlayson: “If that is done and compensation of £SOO or £IOOO is involved, I presume the local bodies will be prepared to meet the bill. The provision of the ground appears to be our pigeon, while the P.W.D.

The chairman of the Harbour Board, Mr J. A. Finlayson, said that the board was prepared to do its utmost in assisting the quick development of a permanent ground at Otaika. Negotiations had been? entered upon with the

should undertake its preparation. Mr Jones: “We want to ascertain what our liability will be. The provision of a ground seems inevitable, and if we can ascertain the cost the local bodies can go into the question ot their contributions.

Alternative Sites,

Mr J. M. Cartwright suggested that in the event of insuperable difficulties arising concerning the acquisition of a ground at Pohe Island, alternative sites at Mackesy’s and Sherwood Rise should be investigated. If public money was to be expended on Pohe Island, its retention as a permanent ground should be considered, as closeness to the town would be an important consideration.

Mr Gibson said it was necessary to obtain a ground immediately, and the advantage of Pohe Island lay in the fact that it could be used right away.

It also provided the essential of a sufficiently long runway. No matter what was done on the ground, however, it would never satisfactorily fulfil the requirements of a regular service. On the other hand, all types of ’planes would be able to land at Otaika under any weather conditions. He did not anticipate that the use of Otaika for commercial flying would interfere with private machines. Mr Gibson pointed out that when the aerodrome was transferred to Otaika, the local authorities would still have a valuable asset in Pohe Island, whlcTl would be eminently suitable as a sports centre or for other purposes.

Four Years Behind. “Whangarei is actually four years behind the times in flying,” said Mr G. E. McKellop, publicity officer of the Auckland Aero Club, and speaker on aerial matters over IZB.

Mr McKellop said that he had attempted to arouse interest in flying here four years ago, but the movement had flopped, whereas in other

centres it had been keenly taken up,

The idea of an aerodrome at Waipapakauri had been born hr a’private conversation between Mr Thode and himself five years ago. Today, Waipapakauri, possessing one store and a hotel, was the centre of a very important district, and possessed as good a landing ground as any country centre in New Zealand, while Whangarei was still lagging behind. Mr McKellop said he would assist Whangarei’s move forward in any way possible. Messrs. Gibson and McKellop were thanked for their advice and attendance, and the motion, as moved by Mr Mac Kay, was carried.