The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1933. AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JULY 14, 1933. AVIATION.

It is a forward step to find nil airways company materialising in oiw distr.ct, It. was a fortunate' civcum* stance that a few ardent spirits took up ftt the outset the making of tv landing ground adjacent to Hokitika. Their enthusiasm carried the project forward and now them is a landing ground well suited to the average machine flying in the Dominion. The site lias much to commend it for its genoral situation arid proximity to the town, and it is now pleasing to find the next step taken and a company being formed to utilise the airways commercially.,lt has been demonstrated that a local plane is an adjunct in cases of emergency, and we have seen how well mails were patronised on special occasions when district flights have taken' place. These experiences have no doubt assisted to lead up to the concrete; effort to establish aviation here sound commercial basis. Aviation* is growing in favour rapidly. Flights which a few months .ago were considered a great achievement, are now a matter of weekly happening. Leisurely trips from and to England are the order of the day. These ventures will increase now that a valuable prize is offered for the Britain-Melbourne (pace, an event which will give aviation a great fillip. The regular transport by air in Europe and America, as well as in Australia across continent and to neighbouring islands has now tablished aviation on very sound lines. New Zealand has still to participate dn a regular world connection, but that will come. to pass. Meantime within the Dominion much use is being made of the air, and the coast is now a definite partner in the flying game. The pioneering effort here is being founded on right lines, and the idea is to serve the outlying districts ■and be available for distant flights to other parts of the Dominion. It will be necessary to provide a chain of landing grounds along the coast. There are landing places at Waiho Gorge and Okuru. and a start has been made to provide a ground at Weiieka. Further north, Greymouth is taking up the matter, and temporary facilities at least are available at Westport, with a good landing place at Nelson. The local effort should be a , useful factor in southern development, | and will assist in removing one aspect of the isolation of the more distant parts. The time will come very soon when posal facilities by air will require to bo provided a.”cl the means will be at hand for that purpose. The local company should be a useful adjunctive aid to the immediate fortunes of tile place, and v ill afford the facilities for greater progress as the machines to be stationed hero come into general use. Captain Mercer who has been pioneering tli- southern air trip for tourists has expressed bis intention of helping traffic, to the coast as much as. possible. He has located a natural landing ground in the -'™- watu district near Mt Aspiring, and wiil be featuring trips for tourists into

the far south and the sounds. It is manifest therefore that aviation is going to play a part more and more intimately in the' daily round and future of the place, and it is pleasing to lind local enterprise taking up the matter with such interest and enthusiasm.