THE MAIL SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1932, Page 6

THE MAIL SERVICE

A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE.

CAPTAIN McCREGOR AT

HOKITIKA.

At 12.12 o’clock, the Spartan plane, piloted by Captain .McGregor, and bearing the first air mail on the last- stage ot its journey from Wellington, via Nelson, Westport, soared over 'Hokitika this afternoon, and a few minutes later landed at the. airport at South Hokitika in perfect .style. The plane spent two hours here before •departing on the return journey,& .when a considerable quantity of iM||Awns carried. The trip to Hokitika occupied about four hours, and Captain McGregor e.\pect s to take the same over the second half.

Interviewed this morning, the pilot said that he had made an excellent trip, being well ahead of schedule when he reached Westport. The last lap was taken easily and took a little over an hour. At both Nelson and Westport, he stopped for twenty minutes for the delivery and taking on of mails, the amount dropped at ieach place being much the same as that delivered at Hokitika.

Asked for his opinion of the service, Captain McGregor said that it certainly wa s a very sound proposition, and the time would undoubtedly come when a regular service would be maintained. ‘The quantity of mail that has been carried to and fro on this trip will certainly be in its favour .when such a service is being considered.” It had been a pioneer ilight, but whether it was to become regular or not depended on the Government, who would have to subsidise the venture.

"In other countries, such flights as this have been made, and the service has b.en fostered by the Governments and turned out a 'success.”

Captain McGregor expressed thanks for the manner in which the postal otfieials had carried out their duties at the different place s at which he hau stopped. '•Questioned about the landing ground at Hokitika, he said it was surprising the progress that had been made considering the state it had been in only a few weeks ago, and said that with a little more attention it would be a really fine ground. He again expressed optimism ot the

future of such a service, although much would depend on the amount of mail offering, although it had been seen that the quantity he had been called upon to carry to-day had more than' justified the trip.