AIR TERMINAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23895, 24 August 1939, Page 8

AIR TERMINAL

CLAIMS OF WELLINGTON INCIDENTS AT AUCKLAND CITED A WEATHER COMPARISON (Special to Daily Times) WELLINGTON, Aug. 23. Citing the Auckland report of the mishap to the Achilles and the Leander at Auckland recently, when the Governor-General (Viscount Galway) was returning by the former ship from the Islands, Mr C. H. Chapman, M.P., at to-night's meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board, said that the public had been led to believe that Auckland Harbour was always placid, and in comparison with Wellington a haven of rest, and yet it was reported that the cause of the Achilles swinging against the Leander was a strong wind and choppy sea. It was a reminder that Wellington had not an alleged monopoly of strong winds and choppy seas. Two incidents occurring recently should make think those responsible for statements of the tranquillity of Auckland harbour generally, said Mr T. R. Barrer. Not only was there the mishap to the naval ships, but on another occasion the harbour was s blanketed by fog that it was difficult for launches to pick their way when meeting ships. In close proximity to Rangitoto Channel one launch struck the bottom. It had been said that a flying boat could not remain aloft indefinitely when there was a strong wind, but when there was a dense fog blanketing the harbour the argument against it attempting to land would be equally forceful. Wellington could provide alternative landing bases in Nelson or Marlborough Sounds. Auckland's alternative was the Bay of Islands, still further north. If Auckland was to be the only harbour with suitable moorings for aircraft, what was to happen if the weather was such in Auckland that a landing by a plane would be unsafe? For that reason alone there should at least be provision for an alternative landing at Wellington. Was it reasonable to suggest that, in view of the great development at Rongotai airport and its immunity from accident, that a sheet of water within half a mile of it was subject to such conditions that a high-powered air machine could not land on it? Objections were once made to Rongotai, but facts and experience proved them false. The chairman (Mr M. A. Eliott) said that according to the evidence placed before the committee which investigated the flying base question there were 57 days in the year on which there were what could be described as gales in Wellington. For Auckland the corresponding figure was 31. In Wellington the days of fog and poor visibility were estimated at 16 annually, against 77 for Auckland. Taking the two together, and fog was recognised as more dangerous than wind, there were 35 days in the year more hazardous for flying at Auckland than at Wellington. Wellington was by far the best centre for the distribution of mails and passengers. It was, in fact, the natural centre, as half the population of New Zealand lived within 200 miles of Wellington. Mr Barrer said that the matter was one of great importance to the people of New Zealand, and he moved that the question be actively taken up with the Government from the viewpoint of the board, so that something might be done in the near future. The motion was carried unanimously.