FOR THE FUTURE

Southland Times, Issue 21096, 30 May 1930, Page 11

FOR THE FUTURE

NEED OF AN AERODROME.

SUGGESTIONS FOR SITES.

The question of obtaining suitable aerodromes for the cities of the Dominion has been exercising the minds of flying enthusiasts all over New 'Zealand, and the legal Aero Club has been actively engaged in endeavouring to secure a suitable area for future flyers in Southland. The difficulty in northern centres has been to secure suitable areas for landing places within a reasonable distance of the centres concerned, but from inquiries made yesterday it appears that Invercargill is likely to be very favourably situated in this respect.

One citizen said that he was keenly'interested in the possibilities of , aviation in New Zealand and was anxious to see-South-land make for the ■’ future of aerial trnsport. He expressed the opinion that the rifle range beyond the estuary would be a very suitable place for an aerodrome. He claimed that New Zealand would be eminently suitable for seaplanes and said that Southland, with Stewart Island and the Sounds so near at hand, would attract a seaplane tourist service.

The rifle range, he continued, was 426 acres in extent and belonged to the City Council, being held by the Defence Department as a rifle range only. He considered that the area could be levelled and its nearness to the estuary would make it an excellent place for both seaplanes and aeroplanes. The president of the Aero Club (Mr. J. E. Cuthill) was interviewed and said that the rifle range was far from suitable because it was full of low areas, which filled with water whenever there was rain. He considered that the expense of levelling and draining the area would be much too great. The area was certainly close to the city, but the Aero Club had another site under consideration which was even nearer the city and had been declared very suitable by experts.

The area was council property, Mr. Cub hill said, and was held by the Borstal authorities. It was situated practically in the lagoon opposite Stead street and was isolated from the Borstal farm by the lagoon and by the main drain. The area was about 120 acres in extent and was 1000 yards long and 650 yards wide. The approaches were perfect from every direction, and the shortest landing area would only have to be used when landing into the wind and when that was done a short run only was required. The greater portion of the area had been under cultivation and very little expenditure would be required to level the whole area and make it suitable for an aerodrome. The area was leased to the Borstal authorities, but its utilization as an aerodrome would not prevent its use as grazing land, as practically every aerodrome in New Zealand was grazed. It would be against the interests of the Borstal authorities to have the public entering an aerodrome through the Borstal property, Mr. Cuthill said, but if the Department could see its way clear to permit the use of the ground as an aerodrome, he believed that the club would support the erection of an entrance from Stead street. The club expected to receive funds from the Golden Wings Art Union and it was hoped that such funds would be available for the laying out of an aerodrome. As- the aerodrome would not require much expenditure the funds would be available for the building of an entrance across the lagoon. In conclusion Mr. Cuthill said that the club hoped to rent the area under consideration. and when it was considered that the establishing of an aerodrome within, a mile of the centre of the city would mean a great deal to the future of Southland, the club had, a right to expect every consideration from the public of Southland and the City Council.