Could Improve

Airstrip On Niue Could Improve Cook Is. Service

An airstrip for Niue, 300 niles east of Tonga, appears to )e coming closer to realisation. \riUE is one of the few islands of any significance without a trip and the building of one would 0 more than give Niue an improved onnection with the outside world; : would be an important link on ie present Polynesian Airlines srvice between Western Samoa and Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands.

The Polynesian DC3 currently lakes the 800 miles flight direct, arrying a greatly reduced number f passengers because of the length f the flight and the need for fuel. \o other DC3 service in the South sas crosses such a long stretch of ater.

An airstrip at Niue would allow ie plane to refuel there and thus 1 carry more passengers.

The secretary of NZ Department Island Territories, Mr. J. M.

IcEwen, said recently the depart ed was concerned about what ould happen to Niue when the NZAF Sunderlands were with awn from Fiji next year, and this is the reason for the interest in Niue airstrip. The Sunderland 'ing-boats are used for emergency ghts to Niue.

Major Dickie, of the NZ Army igmeers, arrived at Niue in De mber to investigate the site and to

report back to New Zealand, where, depending on the estimated cost, a decision may be made by the New Zealand Government for the Army to build the airstrip as an exercise.

Many rumours about building it are current on Niue. There is talk of equipment being flown to Tonga and brought to Niue by the Tongan Government’s landing barge, of the New Zealand Navy bringing in the working force of New Zealand Army men, of ships to be chartered to bring in the heavy equipment required so that with the maximum amount of machinery the strip can be built in a crash programme of 20 weeks. And most of the rumours appear to be true.

Left, the old capital of Levuka, on the Fiji island of Ovalau.