N.Z. AIR DEFENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 July 1933, Page 8

N.Z. AIR DEFENCE

AERODROME CHAIN PROPOSAL

DEPUTATON TO MINISTER

WELLINGTON, July 15

A deputation representative of the New Zealand Aero Club waited on the Mon J. G. Cobbe, Minister for Defence, to-day and submitted to hitoi for his consideration a scheme for - the establishment for defence purposes of a national chain of emergency landing places for aircraft. The Minister appeared to be impressed with the scheme as detailed by the beputation and promised to give it his earnest consideration.

The deputation was indroduced byMr S. G. Smith, M.P. for New Plymouth.' Among those who attended were Mr S'. C. Nei'sorV secretary of the New Zealand Aero Club, the secretary and treasurer of the Wellington Aero Club, and Mr P. R. Climie, secretary of the Canterbury Aero Club. The Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, MajorGeneral W. L. 11. Sinclair-Burgess, was in attendance. '

The deputation urged the Government to take advantage of unemployed labour for the purpose of constructing- a chain of emergency landing grounds throughout the. Dominion on the ’incs of the scheme, details of which are given below, and which was drawn up by Mr Climie. u :

Tile 'scheme) already.-hag .been endorsed' by the Unemployment Hoard and merely awaits the approval of the defence' authorities.

Following are the details of the scheme:— '

1. The Director of Air Service's tb be requested to 'jifepare a ■ plan showing his ' requifMitent's for a? national chain ;yf aerodromes for emergency landings embracing the whole of the Dominion. The map to show the approximate location of each landing ground within, say, a five-mile • radius, having in view the suitability of the location from the paint of view of its proximity to. established and prospective air routes: 1

2. The Public Works Department to li6' ; requested t<j place at the disposal* of the Director- of A'r Services a competent engineer with ’ a full knowledge of ’ the Construction and requirements of aerodromes. The officer in question to be called upon ■to give advice oil .all engineering questions relating to aerodromes. 3. A direct' appeal -tb be made, on patriotic grounds, to the owners Pf land in the area selected by the Director of Air 'Services, in which land owners are to be invited to place,.their land at the disposal of the Government on the understanding that the use of the' , land for aerodrome purposes would not interfere with the ordinary use of the land for farming purposes. 4. On receipt of advice from owners of hind to the-effect that fhe land would be available for the purpose indicated, the site - ' to be inspected by an officer of the Air Force and the advisory engineer.

5. Upon the site being declared suitable, for emergency aerodrome purposes, the land officer of the Public Works Department to be asked to enter into,the desired arrangements for the use of the ground as an emergency aerodrome by the Defence Department. ,

6. Upon the completion of the necessary legal formalities, the Pub-7 lie Works Department to be asked to proceed immediately with the engineering survey <>f the site and lo proceed with the work of levelling by the use of unemployed labour. In remote localities, it would be necessary to establish camps by arrangement with the Unemployment Board.

7. The Cabinet to be asked to give the Public Works Department the desired authority to cover the cost of tools, camp establishment, and engineering surveys.