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(v) A similar draft agreement has also been prepared as to the continued transPacific operations of B.C.P.A. between Australia and North America, and New Zealand and North America. (vi) New Zealand and the Government of Fiji and the Western Pacific High Commission have prepared a draft agreement establishing the duties of the two Governments in respect of the administration of the international airport at Nadi. 5. United Kingdom Civil Aviation Mission, 1948 Considerable prominence has already been given to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Mission which, during the year under review, was invited to report on aviation matters in New Zealand. The report of the Mission, together with a large number of recommendations, was presented to both Houses of Parliament towards the end of 1948, since when steps have been taken to adopt many of the suggestions made in the report. It will be appreciated, however, that very many of the Mission's recommendations involve issues which require considerable investigation, both on the part of the Civil Aviation Branch alone and jointly by the branch in collaboration with other interested parties such as the operating companies, including New Zealand National Airways Corporation, and bodies representing local interests, the Ministry of Works, and other Government Departments. Some of the recommendations involving policy will require direction to the Department from Government before they can be implemented. SECTION lI—AERODROMES AND RELATED GROUND FACILITIES 1. General There is still a large amount of development and construction work required, particularly in respect of the following : (a) Aerodromes serving overseas and internal air routes which have yet to be developed to meet ICAO standards and recommended practices. (6) Smaller landing-grounds to serve club and private flying, and air-taxi work. (c) Buildings, such as those required for aeradio and other technical purposes, hangars, and passenger terminal buildings. General shortages of man-power, plant, and materials have again limited the resources which it has been possible to make available for civil aviation works. The following is a broad outline of the works actually accomplished : 2. New Aerodromes HoJcitiJca. —Constructional work which involves a large amount of heavy plant work was commenced about a year ago, and steady progress has been made under difficult conditions both as to the country to be worked and the equipment available. It was originally intended to build an airfield to ICAO Class F as a first stage, but this was recently amended to Class E, to enable the airfield to be used by Lodestar aircraft suitable for operating a trans-alpine service to Christchurch. It is anticipated that the new field will be available for use towards the end of next summer. International Airport, Auckland. —As the Air Force aerodrome at Whenuapai cannot indefinitely serve also as the civil airport for internal and international air services, detailed consideration has been given during the year to the location of an alternative site suitable for the development of a major airport.

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