AMBITIOUS AIRWAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 996, 12 June 1930, Page 11

AMBITIOUS AIRWAYS

HIGH COMMISSIONER ENTHUSIASTIC PLANS FOR NEW ZEALAND Even in far-off England, the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir Thomas Wilford, seems to be planning ambitious air mail services for the Dominion. He told Flight-Lieutenant W. VazieSimons that he was keen to see such a service inaugurated between Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Flight-Lieutenant Vazie-Simons arrived by the Rangitane this morning from England, and hopes to w r ork with the New Zealand Government doing air work. He said that he was a seaplane and flying-boat specialist, and that he had been flying for 14 years. “Sir Thomas Wilford is very keen on flying, and has been talking a lot in England about aviation,” said FlightLieutenant Vazie-Simons this morning. From what the flying expert told a Sun representative. Sir Thomas seems keen to have a big central airdrome at Wanganui to serve the whole of the North Island. Sir Thomas, with whom the flightlieutenant talked before leaving London, also expressed the opinion that New Zealand and Australia would be joined by an air service in the next three years. The route would be via Lord Howe Island. He also said that he was keen to see a post and passenger air service established between Napier and Gisborne. Flight-Lieutenant Vazie-Simons has in his possession a map of New Zealand which had been marked by S ! r Thomas Wilford, showing the places where air depots could be established. This shows the Dominion linked together by an' ambitious and comprehensive air service. On his arrival in Wellington, FlightLieutenant Vazie-Simons w“l call on U ing-Commander S. Grant Dalton. He interiewed Squadron-Leader T. M. Wilkes before leaving London. Commercial flying in England is forging ahead, said the new arrival. Services had been extended to Irehind and the lines to France were as regular as clockwork.