BIG PROGRAMME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 196, 22 August 1935, Page 8

BIG PROGRAMME

GROUNDJACILITIES AVIATION ADVANCES CHAIN OF FIELDS WELLINGTON, July 25. A year or more ago the general policy of establishing a complete chain of landing grounds along the main air routes of both islands and, between the regular grounds at snorter intervals, fields which may be used as emergency fields, was decided upon by the Government, and a vote was made to cover the cost of surveying and other preliminary work. At that time the development of aviation was regarded as something bound to come, but possibly not for some years in anything like real force. To-day the picture has changed remarkably, and .big advances in flying and flying services are near at hand. The development of regular landing fields, therefore, has become an important national work, in which the air authorities, under the Director of Air Services, the Public Works Department, and the Unemployment Board are co-opc rating. Emeigeney landing grounds do not call for any great degree of development, but merely, in most cases, for such improvement of surface as will permit their use in the event of an emergency landing or landing for the purpose of special convenience. One of the most interesting of all the development is that of the improx ement of Rongotai, lor here the investigations are being made by a combination of observations of air currents over a contour model and actual field observation. The work so far done holds real promise.

Regular Services. Alail and paisenger services are already in operation between Napier and Gisborne and Hokitika and South West land, and those connecting Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, and Hokitika and Palmerston North, Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin are expected to be established before the end of the year. On the West Coast of the South Island, for instance, grounds have been formed or arc under construction at Inchbonnie, Upper Okuru, Haast. and Wai ho (Franz Josef). A feature <»f the scheme is the provision of landing grounds at or near tourist resorts, for in addition to the provision made at. the Franz Josef Glacier and Rotorua facilities arc proposed at Alount Cook, Chateau Tongariro, Taupo, and Tn Anau. By far the greater proportion of the cost of construction is being met by the utilisation of unemployed labour, which would in many cases be employed on work of little permanent value. The expenditure on materials and transpoit is a very small proportion of *ho total cost, and it is hoped that by the utilisation of what would otherwise be labour of little value, a very considerable cap.tai expenditure in future will be avoided, and a very sound as«u*t created for the country. Not all the grounds come under the heading of new construction, as in manv cases the work being done is the improvement of existing facilities, morn particularly in the enlargement and levelling of landing areas established bv local bodies and other ’.'.terested d’.strict organisations. List of Fields. I'ifty grounds in the North Island and 55 in the South have been investigated, the North Island localities being:— A erodromes.— Hobsonville, Rot oruu, Gisborne, Tauranga, Wanganui, Hastings, New Plymouth, Whangarei, Hawcra, Stratford, Te Rapa (Hamilton), Whakatanc, Alangere, Wellington, Napier, Masterton, Foilding, Palmerston North, Dannevirke, Te Awamutu, Te Kuili, Taumtirunui, Taihapc, Taupo, Rnweno, To Arolia, Levin, Hamilton, Wnverley, Rukuhi.a (Hamilton) Emergency Grounds. Waitangi, Thames, Galatea. Atiamuri. Ohakuno, Waikanae, Porirua, Chateau Tongariro, Great Barrivr Island, Waipapakauri, Awanui, To Teko, Wairoa, Gear Island, Kaw.’i ka wa, Honicbrook, Wa ikokopu, Mohaka River mouth, Waikar? liver uioiiH., Nuhaka. The South Island localities are:— Aerodromes. Wigimm. Blenheim, We-tport, Reofton, Greymoulh, ChristchniVh. Dunedin, Hokitika. Timaru (Otipua), Nelson, Motneka, Ross. Karamen. Oamaru, Invercargill, Bahlutha, Tnehbonnio. Wataron (Mata Hui), P.ealoy. Taieri, Stoke, Washdyke, Stewart Island, Gore. Emergency Grounds, .Mount Cook, Collingwood, Ikamalua, M ddlemarch,

Takaka, Upper Okuru, Haast, Mahitahi R., Mahitahi P. 0., Bruce Bay, Kurangarua, Okarito, Welieka, Arawhata, Hari Hari, Alexander, Pembroke (Lake Wanaka), Seddon, Cape Campbell, Clarence River bridge, Waikouati (Cherry Farm), Motunau River, Hunts Beach, W’Hho, Frankton, Te Anau. Ward, Kekarangu, IJapuka River mouth, Mnru'a springs, Hurunui River mouth. Twenty-nine grounds are under coast ruction or complete, these being:— North Islano. —Taupo, Hobsonville, Rotorua, Gisborne, Wanganui, Tauranga. Hastings, New Plymouth. Stratford, Masterton. Feilding. Dannevirke, Te Kuiti, Rukuhia (Hamilton:. South Island. —Wigram, Westport. Hokitika. Ross, Weheka, Mount Cook. Invercargill, Balclutha, Inchbonnie, Stoke, AFussel Po’nt, Upper Okuru, Haast. Mah’.taki Rive-, Waiho. Forty-one grounds have been or are being surveyed for 'construction, as follows: North Island.— Hobsonville. Rotorua, Gisborne, Tauranga, Hastings, New Plymouth, Waitangi, Whangarei, Hawcra, Stratford, Thames, Mnngere, Napier. Masteiton, Palmerston North. Dannevirke, Chateau Tongariro, Taupo, Waipapakauri. South Island.—W’.gram, Westnort, Greymouth, Dunedin (Mosg'el). Hokitika, Timaru (Ot : puo), Mount Cook, Nelson. Motueka. Invercargill, T»alrlutha, Stoke, Mussel Point, Upper Okuru. Haast. Mahitnhi River, Mnhitahi Post Office, Bruce Bay, Waiho, Gore. Frankton, Te Anau. Manv of the grounds on which surveys have been made and estimates framed should bo under construction during tin' current year.