AIR SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22543, 7 October 1936, Page 12

AIR SERVICES

DOMINION PROBLEMS MR. BERTRAM'S VISIT DEPARTURE NEXT WEEK REPORT TO GOVERNMENT LATER [by telegraph—special reporter] WELLINGTON, Tuesday With the objectives of his mission to New Zealand now virtually attained, Mr. F. G. L. Bertram, Deputv. Director of Civil Aviation in thrf British Air Ministry, is- to leave Auckland by the Aofangi next Tuesday on his return to England. Mr. Bertram j 3 at present visiting relatives in the Bav of Islands, but his plans provide for his return to Auckland on Monday and his departure bv the Aorangi the follow, ing day. In discussing the results of M r Bertram's visit in an interviews this evening, the Prime Minister! Mr. Savage, expressed the that nothing but good would come of 41 Mr. Bertram had taken part in the discussions regarding the future of commercial air services over the Tasnian and the Pacific, but the recommendations which developed from those discussions were still confidential. In addition, Mr. Bertram had conferred with the Domin. ion authorities on all points regarding the expansion of internal air services in New Zealand, and his report in that connection would doubtless be made available to the Government in tlio near future. Although the Prime Minister himself did not say so, it is believed that the application by Union Airways for an extension of its trunk route licence from Palmcrston North to New Plymouth and Auckland js being held up pending the receipt of Mr. Bertram's report and the settlement by the Government of a detailed policy with regard to civil aviation in the Dominion. Mr. Savage stated that if Mr. Bertram left by the Aorangi next week he would be travelling in company with the Minister of Finance.- the Hon. W. Nash. Advantage .would probably be taken of that fact to continue discussions on various aspects of Empire policy in connection with air mails and commercial aviation.

AERODROME EXTENSION PLANS AT%EW PLYMOUTH [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent]. NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday The plans for the extension of the aerodrome at New' Plymouth were approved by Captain E. C. Johnston, Controller of Aviation in Australia, when inspecting the aerodrome yesterday. "You cannot have 'the runways too long," stated the visitor. The big danger, stated Captain .Johnston, was in spending a lot of money on an airport and then finding there was not enough room. Regarding the New Plymouth improvements, lie stated that there was a great deal to be said for having hangars and %&. ministrativfc buildings as reasonably close to the centre of the field as possible. That idea was being followed in Australia, and the New Plymouth scheme coincided with his views of what an airport ought to be.