COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22717, 1 November 1935, Page 8

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

ITS GROWTH ASSURED LETTER FROM BERINT BALCHEN The opinion that nothing can. stop the growth of commercial aviation in New Zealand, provided the airways are conducted on the right lines, was ex» pressed in a letter to Mr A. A, s Paape by Mr Bernt Balchen, who will be remembered in Dunedin as one of the chief members of the Lincoln Ellsworth Antarctic Expedition. Mr Balchen, when the expedition returned to America, accepted an appointment under the Norwegian Government as an aviation organiser, and the letter was written 'from Oslo, where he has his headquarters. "The air lines started here ha\e developed beyond our wildest dreams," he said, " and we are going ahead with large extension work next year. In the near future we also intend linking up the air lines of Europe and, perhaps, even with America. " I have had a busy time since coming to Norway, but have frequently found time to think of the delightful experiences I had down in New Zealand, and it is one of my fondest hopes that some day I may have the chanee to visit you again and go up to Te Anau for some more hunting. "I have seen in the newspapers that a start is being made with commercial aviation in New Zealand. Now is lha time to make a start and, provided the lines are properly conducted, I am sure that nothing can stop their development. Chris Baarthen, who was my mechanic on the expedition, is here in Oslo, and I expect that he will be joining forces with me next spring."