GISBORNE AERODROME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 11

GISBORNE AERODROME

SCHEME FOR ENLARGEMENT SPECIAL LOAN REQUIRED ATTITUDE OF DEPARTMENT [by telegraph—owx correspondent] GISBORNE, Wednesday The need for expediting arrangements for improvements to the Gisborne areodromc was stressed at a Borough Council meeting. It was agreed that the council should press the matter when the Mayor, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P., was on a visit to Wellington.

It was reported that two other local bodies concerned, the Cook and Waikohu County Councils, had approved if the Minister of Public Works gave an undertaking that the building of the aerodrome would'not affect tlu> railway prospects. In a letter the Cook Council mentioned that in contributing two-sevenths of the cost of the £6OOO loan required special legislation would be necessary.

The Minister of Employment, Hon. H. T. Armstrong, wrote: "1 have to acknowledge your letter advising that the council has agreed to take the necessary steps for the extension and improvement of the Gisborno aerodrome, but no delinite action can be taken in connection with tho major scheme, involving the acquisition of additional land, until the raising of a loan iias been sanctioned by a poll of ratepayers. 111 reference to your inquiry whether the Unemployment Board would approve of a grant toward tho cost of materials and the hire of plant, I have to advise that this matter will receive further consideration at the next meeting of the board. I might mention that as a general rule it is not the policy of the board to contribute any portion of the cost of materials, etc." The Mayor said tfaflt if the work was to be of any immediate value it should bo commenced very shortly. He suggested that while in Wellington he should endeavour to expedite the matter. This course was adopted. EAST COAST SERVICE HEAVY HOLIDAY/ TRAFFIC MORE THAN 400 PASSENGERS All previous records established by East Coast Airways, Limited, were eclipsed during the holiday period, 403 paying passengers being carried between Napier and Gisborne during the three weeks' ended 011 Saturday. 011 many occasions during that period the company's services were duplicated in order to cope with the traffic offering, the morning service from Gisborne, in particular, necessitating the use of both machines.

The two De Havilland Dragon aeroplanes finished the period with the record of 38.G88 passenger miles and 2807 ton miles to their credit, and the services were run to schedule practically throughout, the only exceptions being when the start from Napier in the evening was delayed slightly through the train being late. The company is still seriously handicapped by the unsatisfactory condition of the aerodrome at Gisborne, in consequence of which it is necessary more often than not to refuse passengers offering for the morning flight. On account of the state of the ground the company is restricting its load to five passengers, although the machines are fitted to carry seven, and the sending of a second aeroplane is not warranted unless three passengers, with at least a prospect of some back loading, are offering. Future bookings by the company indicate that business will be well maintained, although, of course, it is not expected that the rate during the holidays will continue. Traffic, however, has been increasingly steady, and the extent of outside bookings indicates that the service is becoming more widely known and the time-saving possibilities better appreciated.