GROUNDS FOR LANDING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

GROUNDS FOR LANDING.

MUNICIPAL RESPONSIBILITY* Tlio New Zealand Government has recently empowered local authorities to spend money on the encouragement of aviation, even if tlio aerodrome it is proposed to assist is not in tlio local authority's particular area.

This is certainly an important step in tho right direction, sinco tho very development of aviation here depends upon how many " ports of call " aro furnished for tho aviator. Flying is synonomous to a great extent with shipping, and by taking a parallel, ono could easily visualiso tho extent of tho world's shipping if thcro existed only a few natural ports for maritime trade. In this country quick transport is bad, and setlements are, comparatively speaking, few and far between. If one would travel to Gisborno from Auckland _ a whole day must be wasted in getting there, whereas by air the trip occupies 110 more than three hours. Even up to Rotorua there is a saving of six hours, owing to tho tortuous course taken by tho railway line. But tho fact remains that these trips cannot bo mado regularly unless one knows beforehand that a good landing ground awaits one at the destination, and, more important, there is accomodation for a certain number of aircraft. To those local authorities who neglect this important question of landing grounds and organisation, let this bo a _ message — secure your ground before it is too late, and safeguard tho interests of your town by attracting visitors and commerce from the air.