AVIATION IN NEW ZEALAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18550, 9 November 1934, Page 9

AVIATION IN NEW ZEALAND

PROVISION OF AERODROMES MINISTER EXPLAINS SCHEME ■ (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Referring to the statement outlining the Government's policy in connection with the laying-out of aerodromes and emergency landing grounds, .the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. J. G. €obbe) said:— “The impression has been gained in some quarters that the contract system under which unemployed labor is used causes individual hardship among the workmen employed. This, the engineer, Mr E. A. Gibson, reports, is disproved by tho results on various works so far undertaken. It is pointed out , that in few localities has No. 5 scheme labor been in receipt of more than 10s per day, and this is usually with a stand-down week. On the aerodrome work generally, the stand-down week has been eliminated, and the average rate on which contracts are based is raised to 12s per day.” Mr Cobbo said tho Government’s scheme involved the construction of aerodromes and emergency landing fields on the main and subsidiary air routes of tho Dominion. “While the Government,” the Minister said, “is anxious to assist local authorities with tho establishment of aerodromes, financial considerations /will not permit of helping other than by the provision of surplus unemployed labor and the carrying out of necessary surveys, and the provision of engineering, meteorological and expert aviation advice.”