Nandi As Advance Base For Maritime Squadron

Press, Volume C, Issue 29501, 1 May 1961, Page 14

Nandi As Advance Base For Maritime Squadron

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 30, A land-based maritime squadron using Nandi Airport in Fiji as an advance station was suggested as a replacement flying-boat squadron by the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) in Auckland tonight. Mr Eyre had just returned by R.N.Z.A.F. Hastings after a week in Fiji.

Flying-boats were no longer manufactured, and for the Air Force to continue its maritime reconnaissance role, land planes were being considered. The squadron could be based at Whenuapai, he said. He did not foresee any difficulty in using the civil aerodrome at Nandi for such military operations.

Mr Eyre said the morale ot the personnel at the Lauthala Bay flying-boat base was extremely high. He paid a tribute to the way they had kept the flyingboats flying so successfully.

These still had four or five years of life if required, although their operational and anti-submarine equipment was obsolete and of only limited effectiveness. It would be two years before any land planes ordered could be delivered and it was not possible to use the same type of aircraft for transport and anti-submarine reconnaissance work.

Asked if the equipment and buildings could be transferred from Lauthala Bay for use at Nandi, Mr Eyre said the buildings were of a permanent nature. “Good Reputation” The Lauthala Bay base had become part of the Suva and Fiji economy and it had a good reputation. Since the base was established during the war, about £750.000 had been spent on it. There were 337 officers and airmen and 368 civilians employed there. More than £500.000 was actually spent in Fiji each year, and wages amounted to about £350,000.

The flying-boats had been a big influence over the

Pacific area, because many islands did not see any other type of craft except for the occasional naval ship. The replacement question would be discussed in the defence review to be released in June.

Mr Eyre said it was regrettable that the Fiji Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve had had to be disbanded through necessary economies in 1959 Fiji had cut its expenditure from £195.000 to £85,000 a year.. It would have been better to have continued even on a strict, economic basis. He hoped the matter would be reconsidered in the near future.

Mr Eyre denied a Press Association message from Suva that the Governor of Fiji (Sir Kenneth Maddocks) had given a strong “handsoff” warning against discussing the revival of the Fiji R.N.V.R He and the Governor had

had only inforfaal talks, and the question of the revival was strictly a domestic matter. “Full Review” A Press Association message from Suva said Mr Eyre refused to be drawn very far when questioned about the future of the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Lauthala Bay. He said no decision would be made until a full review of New Zealand defences was completed about the end of June.

Mr Eyre said if the existing flying-boats had to be replaced by land aircraft, it was unlikely the Air Force could use the present Nausori airport. 13 miles from Suva, or any new airport which might be built along the Suva foreshore. Apart from the coast, there was not enough space available. An international airport "would be the logical answer.”