AIR SERVICE ASKED

Southland Times, Issue 22992, 11 September 1936, Page 9

AIR SERVICE ASKED

PROGRESS LEAGUE’S REQUEST JOINING MAINLAND TO STEWART ISLAND The arguments put forward by the Southland Progress League in support of its request for the establishing of a passenger air service between the mainland and Stewart Island have been marshalled convincingly in a letter which the league has sent to the Minister of Defence, the Hon F. Jones, whose department controls civil aviaiton. Portions of the letter are as follows:— “An air service connection between Stewart Island and the mainland is not a new idea, for in recent years such a proposal has often been mentioned here when discussions have taken place concerning the disabilities which Stewart Island is under. The question was again brought to the notice of this league when a deputation representing the Southland Aero Club waited on the executive at its last meeting. The establishment of this service is beyond the resources of the Aero Club, but its representatives have assured the league that the Government would receive its wholehearted co-operation in the event of giving favourable consideration to the matter. “Overseas and northern visitors to Stewart Island are unanimous in their opinion that as a tourist resort the Island is unexcelled. The beauties of its scenery are unique even for New Zealand. It is certain that long before this Stewart Island would have been one of the most important tourist resorts of the Dominion, were it not that many prospective visitors shrink from undertaking the boat crossing of Foveaux Strait. Some years ago the Bluff Harbour Board purchased a vessel partly for the object of providing a better steamer service to Stewart Island, but unfortunately a lot of trouble was experienced in the operation of this boat, with the result that the board was obliged to withdraw her from the service. She was eventually sold. Fewer Visitors. “To illustrate the attractions of the Island, when people can reach there in comparative comfort, it is sufficient to say that while the vessel was in the running for only two seasons an average of over 7000 visitors was carried each year. Now, with not such a good service, this number has dropped by half. In passing, perhaps I should mention that the league has no desire to condemn the existing service or its proprietor, for it is realized that he is doing the best possible in consideration of the prevailing circumstances. “There is a resident population on the Island of about 500 people. No doctor is stationed there, and many cases of urgent sickness have been reported where the patient has had to be brought to the mainland by fishing launch. Those who are familiar with the troublous waters of Foveaux Strait know that this procedure is often a hazardous undertaking. “My league had directed me to ask if you will give the matter of establishing an air service to Stewart Island your favourable consideration. It has been suggested that an amphibian machine capable of carrying four to six passengers would be the most suitable type of machine for the proposed service. I may say that it has been pointed out that this type of machine could land on the water at Stewart Island, and in order to save upkeep and higher depreciation from the action of salt water, could be housed each night at the Invercargill aerodrome. “There may already be a machine in New Zealand capable of undertaking this service, but if not, my league trusts you will arrange for inquiries to be made overseas about the most suitable type of machine available. In considering this matter, you will no doubt make investigations into the financial and business aspect of the problem. With the establishment of a satisfactory air service there is unlimited scope in the matter of passenger traffic offering for the greater portion of the year. Considerable business awaits the advent of a suitable air transport in the running of tourist trips to the famous West Coast Fiords and Southern Lakes.”