THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11, 1948. Whangarei's Wings May Be Clipped

Northern Advocate, 11 August 1948, Page 4

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a newspaper. WEDNESDAY AUGUST 11, 1948. Whangarei's Wings May Be Clipped

Revelations made to the Whangai rei Chamber of Commerce last night give cause for anxiety regarding future air services to Whangarei.

The general manager of the National Airways Corporation (Mr F. Maurice Clarke) intimated when visiting the town last week, that Lockheed Electras, the type of plane now used on the Northland run, will be withdrawn at the end of next year, and that no further machines of this kind will be put into commission.

Compared with larger plane? already operating on New Zealand services, the Lockheed Electras leave much to be desired, both on the score of capacity and comfort, but they have served a most useful purpose in providing speedy and safe travel.

With the introduction of the twicedaily service this month, the pioneer stage of commercial flight in Northland is past, the Lockheed Electras having proved the public demand for regular air facilities.

With their withdrawal, Whangarei will be faced with the unpalatable alternative of either no service at all —which is unthinkable—or an inferior service operated by planes smaller, even, than those now in use. This also would be a most retrograde step.

There is a third solution—long discussed, but one now requiring immediate consideration and action—provision of an airport in keeping with the present importance of Whangarei and one which will, assist its future development. When Mr Clarke’s statement was discussed by the Whangarei Chamber of Commerce, the president (Mr K. Haslett) got to the kernel of the matter.

“It is essential,” he said, “that a larger airport be pressed foi Giving evidence before the Local Government Commission in Whangarei on July 1, the resident Works Department engineer (Mr L, May) announced that the Kioreroa project, envisaging mudflat reclamation, had been investigated by his department, but it had been found that the requisite angle of clearance could not be obtained.

Inquiries had been made in regard to other sites, but Mr May expressed the personal opinion that, at present, there was no likelihood of Whangarei’s aerodrome being shifted from Onerahi. In view of Mr Clarke’s statement this is disturbing, especially as the Onerahi aerodrome does not lend itself to expansion. However, the Chamber of Com-

merce last night wisely did not permit itself to be discouraged by the adverse report from the Works Department. and appointed two representatives to discuss with the Harbour Board its tentative scheme for building an airport with two runways on the reclaimed Otaika land.

Closer study may reveal that the problems apparent from the Works Department’s preliminary survey may not be insurmountable, and, in the absence of any alternative field so conveniently situated, further investigation of the Otaika project is essential. Another aspect of aviation requiring the closest scrutiny by Northlanders is extension of commercial freight services to this area. Here, again, the chambers of commerce have been active in watching the interests of the province, but again the picture is not a happy one. In May the Whangarei chamber, in answer to its representations, was informed by the National Airways Corporation that Onerahi aerodrome was 700 feet too short to take Douglas Dakota transport planes. Kaitaia is more fortunately situated. The capacity of the aerodrome there extends well beyond the Lockheed Electra aircraft, and. should need arise, Mr Clarke stated last week, the corporation is prepared to send the Douglas type of freight aircraft to Kaitaia.

The field has been gazetted as an emergency landing ground for the large Skymasters now operating to New Zealand from overseas. The ultimate objective is to provide a one-day Northland-Invercar-gill air connection, with passenger accommodation available from Northland to all southern centres on the day of application. Provided the twice-daily service instituted on August 2 proves itself, it seems highly probable that a main trunk service will be established, with Kaitaia as the overnight terminal.

Non-availability of a suitable landing ground at Whangarei might delay the introduction of such a desirable facility, or, to quote Mr Clarke: — We are “not to be disappointed if we sec the great airliners flying overhead and not landing at Whangarei.”

Is Whangarei to have a smaller feeder service or to be on the main trunk route? The National Airways Corporation is not.building for immediate needs alone, but for the future.

Whangarei must adopt the same policy, and act immediately to that end if it is not to be left out in the cold.