EXPANSION PLANS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 15

EXPANSION PLANS

ADDING TO SQUADRONS FLIGHTS AT OTHER CENTRES NEW PLYMOUTH AND HASTINGS [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] WELLINGTON, Wednesday The Cabinet has approved the strengthening of the Wellington territorial squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force by the establishment of flights at New Plymouth and Hastings and the strengthening of the Dunedin squadron by the establishment of a flight at Invercargill, according to a statement made by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to-day. The Minister said approval had also been given to the strengthening of the Auckland and Christcliurch territorial squadrons. "Tho consent of the local aerodrome authorities will be sought during the next few days to the erection of the necessary buildings at New Plymouth, Hastings and Invercargill, and tenders will be called for tho erection of hangars,'' said Mr. Jones. "It is hoped tho expansion will bo completed before the end of 1939, when it is expected that tho necessary equipment will have been received from the United Kingdom."

COOK STRAIT ZONE PROVISION AT BLENHEIM LAND FOR AERODROME TENDERS CALLED FOR HANGARS [by telegraph—press association] BLENHEIM, Wednesday The Royal New Zealand Air Force squadron which is being established at Blenheim will be located on the Woodbourne estate, the aerodrome embracing the field from which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith took off in the first New Zealand-Australia flight in 1928, and which was used by the Marlborough Aero Club and the commercial air services during the period that the Blenheim civil aerodrome was undergoing reconstruction. The decision to use Woodbourne constitutes a reversion to the former plan of the Government to resume the area for the purpose of an air station in the scheme for the defence of the Cook Strait zone. The decision to take the property was subsequently revoked, but in recent weeks a survey has been undertaken, and the Minister's announcement was not unexpected. Tenders were invited to-day by the Public Works Department for the erection in timber of temporary hangars and annexes at Woodbourne.

Once the negotiations for the taking over of Woodbourne have been completed no time will be lost in grading and draining the area for the construction of the defence aerodrome, stated the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, when interviewed by telephone. The Minister added that the machines with which the squadron would be equipped were on order. They would have a wide range and be fully adequate for reconnaissance work from Blenheim and give full protection to the central portion of New Zealand.

All the machines will be fitted with wireless, and part of the equipment of the aerodrome will be a wireless station. The buildings to be erected comprise two hangars and annexes, a workshop, quarters for the officers and men and the wireless building.