AIR SERVICES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1929, Page 3

AIR SERVICES

WELL! NGTON,-NELSON

WING-COMMANDER DALTON’S

ADVOCACY

WELLINGTON, Nov. 4

Wing-Commander Grant Dalton, who is Director of the New Zealand Permanent Air Force, hopes before long to see the North and South Islands linked up by a flying boat service between Wellington and Nelson, and says the trip would he one of the most beautiful and wonderful in the world.

11l conversation with a reporter today, Wing-Commander- Grant Dalton said he had. had occasion to go to Nelson a few days before, and the journey bv boat took 11 hours. He had it, tunned by aeroplane, and the trip took just 40 minutes. “With the flying experience 1 have had,” he said, “it struck me that the trip by air from Wellington to Nelson, would he as beautiful a pleasure trip as could be found in any part of the world. The scenery over the Sounds is simply magnificent, for at 5000 ft i' wo .Id ibe possible with good visibility to see something like half of each Island. A flying boat service wimid.he very.useful to people on the other, side who want„to .come to,Wellington to do some shopping, for they could make the trip and he hack for lunch.” if anv efforts were made to establish such a service he would he very glad to help in any wav he could, as he was Director of Civil Aviation as well as of the New Zealand Per-; nianent Air Force., There was a splien-, did harbour, at each end, and nothing could go. wrong with such; a, service. H-might, ibe possible to include. Picton,. hut he had not visited there and could, not say if there were sufficient expanse of water. “I came out here on this job, and what, struck me most so far as the two Islands are concerned was that they should he brought together by a direct service taking under an hour. The linking up of Auckland with the South Island is another matter, as the two are already well served by an ex'-ellent train and ferry service.” He thought the Wellington-Nelson service could he made a paying proposition at 305,, for the steamer was 25s and took very much longer,.