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REPORT OF THE ACTING CONTROLLER OF CIVIL AVIATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1945 The Hon. the Minister op Defence. 24th July, 1945. 1 have the honour to present herewith my report of the activities of the Civil Aviation Branch for the year ending 31st March, 1945 :— General The administration of the Branch has been particularly difficult during the year, principally because of the inability to obtain qualified Technical Assistants on operational and radio questions. The problem has been partially met by the secondment of Service personnel. Between October, 1944, and January, 1945, the Acting Controller of Civil Aviation was absent in the United States and Canada attending the International Civil Aviation Conference at Chicago and the Commonwealth Empire Radio for Civil Aviation Conference in Ottawa. Reports on these two Conferences have been submitted. Air Transport Services On 31st March, 1945, scheduled services were operated over the following routes, which totalled 1,742 miles :— Route Operated by 1. Auckland - Palmerston North - Wellington ~ 2. Wellington-Christchurch-Dunedin 3. Wellington-Blenheim 4. Wellington-Nelson Union Airways of New Zealand, Ltd. 5. Dunedin-Invercargill 6. Palmerston North - Napier - Gisborne 7. Gisborne-Auckland 8. Nelson-Westport-Greymouth-Hokitika 9. Hokitika-Weheka . Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd. 10. Hokitika-Haast-Okuru - Jacksons Bay J Nine aircraft were employed on these services. 51,754 passengers, 272,251 lb. of freight, and 313,013 lb. of mail were carried. Miles flown totalled 965,787. Tasman Empire Airways This service between Auckland and Sydney is operated on a basis of three return trips weekly. Traffic statistics are as follows :— Miles flown .. .. .. .. ~ 427,460 Passengers .. .. .. .. .. 5^803 Freight .. .. .. .. .. 84,1891b. Mail .. .. .. .. .. 142,8121b. I have, &c., J. M. Buckeridge, Acting Controller of Civil Aviation.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not, given ; printing (700 Copies), £10 10s.

By Authority: E. V, Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l94s

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