“Taranaki Central Press” SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1937. WELLINGTON AS AN AIR CENTRE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 404, 10 April 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1937. WELLINGTON AS AN AIR CENTRE.

By a process of reasoning which it is difficult to follow, Mr. A. R. Hislop, a member of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, has arrived at the conclusion that antagonism to Wellington as an air centre may have been the cause of the Pan-American air clipper’s not visiting Wellington. But Mr. Hislop carried his reasoning to fantastic limits when he further suggested at a meeting of the chamber, that the nonarrival of the clipper had effectively demonstrated the value of Wellington as a central air terminal base, with Nelson as an alternative landing base if conditions at Wellington were unsuitable.” The reason for Mr. Hislop’s curious remarks is to be found in his subsequent statements about Auckland harbour, revealing that parochial sentiment had prompted them. If there is one subject upon which a purely national viewpoint should be taken, it is the subject of air communications; and there is no subject about which more nonsense is talked by persons who have little or no knowledge of it. The fact is that Wellington, ideally though it is situated for most purposes, has yet to proved ideal or even reasonably safe as a base for the use of flying boats; and it may be as well to recognise, first as last, that it may never be possible, because of the hazardous flying conditions that surround the capital’s harbour, and the extent of the landing and taking off space required for flying-boats of the size of the Sikorskys, safely to use the port regularly for international flying service. No one will deny that if the conditions were suitable, central-ly-situated Wellington would be the most useful landing-place for the American and Imperial Airways clippers which it is hoped will shortly commence regular flying services to and from New Zealand. Unfortunately, however, air conditions, caused by the high surrounding hills and the heavy winds to which the capita] is subject, would frequently make a landing on the harbour a perilous undertaking and preclude its regular use by the modern clippers. The first consideration in any air service is safety, and if Auckland provides safer facilities than Wellington, no considerations of parocnial pride should be allowed to prejudice use of the northern port. -In any event it is not to be thought of that the companies providing the services will be swayed by any local outcry'against their alleged neglect of any particular centre. Their first and only consideration will be the safety of their craft and the passengers and mail that they carry.