A SEAPLANE BASE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 73, 29 April 1929, Page 9

A SEAPLANE BASE

MIXISTER OF DEFENCE LOOKS OA'ER IXXER HARBOl'R. QUESTIOX OF FLYIXG GROUXD do want to find anotlicr seaplane liase apart from Hobsonville, and I shall look with particular interest at vour imier harbouiv' declared the H011. T. M. AVilford, _ Minister of Defence and Justice,, in Xapier this morning, in answer to a deputation from ihe Napier Acro Club, Avhich waited on him in cofinection with 11 flying ground for Xapier. Ihe Minister said that the Government had tliree seaplanes arriving shortlv, and had only one air port at wliich they could land. He was anxious to find anotlicr, but lie warned tlie deputation tliat he did not know what financial aid he would get from the Government, and in any case, he would give a subsidy to oniv one club hetwcen Gisborne aiul the Manawatu gorgo. The Minister advised tlie deputation "to get togjther and do something" for themselves. Tlie deputation was headcd hy Mr AV. E. Barnard, M.P., who explamed tliat Ihe proposed Xapier Aero Club was anxious to get going with flyiug instructfon. The club had tlie option over a ground of 72 acrcs in Riverbend road, but it had not heen so far approved 011 tlie grounds that l'reedom from floods could not be guaranteed. The Rivers Board liowcver, liad a fiood control scbeme in view that would protect the area, wliich was intended for onlv a temporary ground. Mr R. C. AA'riglit urged the Minister to give his approval of the site as a temporary ground till the Harbour Board endowments had licen reelaimed sufiiciently to enable the club to start a land and seaplane base adjacent to the inner harbour. He ex]ires.sed the opinion that just as vSantiago was tlie air-port of U.S.A., so Xapier would he the airport for Xew Zealand. Mr F. C. Hay, tlie River Board engineer, said tliat the proposed ground could be presorved from flooding foi" a cost of £1090 by ring-baiiking. The Fivers Board's comprehensive scheme would take at least five years to com-

plete. He thouglit that as there was a 000aere block soutli of tho lligh .Sclioql already fiood protccted, and wliich would be ready for use in about four months, a good ground could be secured there. Mr Hay said that ihe ground cn Riverbend road would be llooded about 11 week eacli year to a clepth of tliree feet. Mr H. L. Benjamin said that the Riverbend road ground had no wires round it and had a run-way eaeh way of a quarter of a milo Tlie Minister: But that is 110 good. Tliat would limib your ground to twoseater 'planes with slotted wings. A'ou want to say, "Come oue; coine all." The Minister asked if tlicre were alteinative grounds and Mcaneo Park was jnentioncd. Mr AA'riglit said tliat tliat was four miles from town, wliich tlie committee thouglit a little too far away. Tho Minister, in replv to tlie speak ers, said that tho Government realiscd that extra encouragement sliould be given to aviation in this countr.v, both from the military and conunercial lioint of view. He could make no pronouncement as to what suhsidy would he granted in future, however, till lie knew what suin Parliament would sanction to the •aviation vote. AA'hatever financial vote Parliament sanetioned, liowcver, they could not possibly subsidise every club along tlie coast. If Parliament sanctionod a suhsidy for the cluhs he would only recommcnd a grant to one hetwcen Gisborne and Dannevirke. He told the deputation that tlie proper thing for them to do was to get together aiul seo if tliov could not he('omo wortliy of the grant. Perhaps thev could make a conibincd seaplane and laiid])lane liase at Xapier. ITe was keen to discover aiioihor seaplane liase in this country. There were tliree seaplanes arriving shortlv for the Govenimeiit. and I10 wished to find anotlier liase hoside TTohsonville. Sucli hases were essential for the future defence of the country, and be would look with interesfc at the inner harbour. Tlie Minister undertnok to look over the sugirested grounds and also the inner liarhour with Major T. M. AA'ilkcs, Director of Aviation, in company with tlie oluh officers.