EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE GREY AERODROME

Grey River Argus, 4 February 1948, Page 2

EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE GREY AERODROME

“That the League again communicate with the Minister of Defence requesting the information already sought as to the safety standards set by the International Airways Convention in order that it may be known to what extent the Greymouth aerodrome has to be improved; until details are available no steps towards complying with the standards can be taken”. “That the League renews its request to Sir Leonard Isitt, chairman of Aerodromes Committee, oi September 3 last, for an early inspection of West Coast aerodromes by the Aerodromes Committee”. These recommendations ol the Transport and Communications Committee of the Westland Progress League were adopted at last night’s meeting. . In a letter to the League, the Minister of Works, the Hon. R. Semple, pointed out that ihe present aerodrome at Greymouth does not give the necessary safety margins lor trie aircraft operating on the West Coast service. Limited extensions were possible, but the site was considerably restricted by the presence of the sea to the west, and the hospital, railway line and Harbour Board lagoons to the east and north. "I am reluctant to undertake the further development of the aerodrome until all factors which must be taken into consideration are known more definitely. Early development of new tvpcs of aircraft may tend to show that’the present aerodrome can be made to serve Greymouth lor any anticipated service for many years to come”, added Mr Semple. “A committee set up by the Hon. Minister of Defence is now studying in the 1 idlest detail, the probable development required for till ticrodronios to irieet future requirements, and meantime every endeavour is being made to complete the new Hokitika aerodrome so that the central Westland area will be equipped with one aerodrome of high standard. I would point out that a'number of larger communities suffer a like disability to that at meuth in that the only available aerodromes ol a reasonable standard of safety for aircraft at present m use lie at considerable distances from ihe centres of population”. AIRCRAFT NOT AVAILABLE Mr Maurice Clarke, the general manager of National Airways Corporation, in a letter to the League, stated: “While the Corporation is not yet in a position to provide an air service to Greymouth on account of the non-availability oi an aircraft which will meet the requirements laid down by the Air Department careful investigations have been made along the lines of effecting an improvement in the mail service to Greymouth. In this connection enclosed lor your information is a copy oi a letter which has been despatched to the DirectorGeneral, Post and Telegraph Department, which is self-explanatory and which, it is considered, might result in an Improvement . being effected. Immediately on receipt of the Direc-tor-General’s reply a further comniunicaticn will be addressed to you. As advised bv the chairman in his letter cf October 15, The reinstatement of Greymouth as a port of call on the West‘Coast service is a matter which is causing the Corporation a great deal of concern. but which is bound up with the development of the Greymouth aerodrome’’. Mr Semple also advised the League that the international standards of aerodromes were matters for the Minister of Civil Aviation. GREYMOUTH’S IMPORTANCE 'Pho general manager of National Airways also forwarded a copy of a letter he had sent to the Aerodromes Committee. In it he stated: “By virtue of the fact that Greymouth is.the largest town on the West Coast, it is felt that it should receive some consideration in this aspect alone, and particularly in view of the League’s suggestion that’ the work could oe undertaken by local contractors with the necessary plant and skilled labour available. The Corporation has endeavoured to give Greymouth the best air communication possible, both with mail and passengers, but until such time as the aerodrome is fully developed, it will be impossible to give to Greyrnouth the services it is entitled to”. , _ Referring to South Westland, Mr P. C. Elan!:' inquired whether the Weheka aerodrome could be used lor ambulance planes, and whether the Airwavs Corporation had closed the 'drome. Road communications in the area were not good, and in times of serious illness, a plane was the only feasible method of transporting the’ patient quickly to a hospital. If the Corporation stated that a plane would not be allowed to land, the matter would be one of extreme urgency.

It was decided to make representation to the Minister on the matter.