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Talks On Future

Of Cook Is.

Air Service

W. H. Percival, in Rarotonga It is understood that inter ntional aviation laws to be nforced some time next year will imit the flying time of twin ngined aircraft to 90 minutes ver the sea. This will mean the

ampliation of the present

reekly flights of Polynesian Air

nes DCS aircraft from Apia, /estern Samoa, to Aitutaki and .arotonga. )URING their recent visit to New Zealand Mr. A. O. Dare, Re lent Commissioner, Dr. Manea imarua, Leader of Government isiness, and Mr. Albert Henry, jader of the Cook Islands Party, scussed future air services for the ook Islands with New Zealand’s ivil Aviation Department in Wel igton.

It was proposed that prop-jet ectra aircraft could fly direct )m New Zealand to either Raro nga or Aitutaki, thus drastically iucing current air fares and ing time. To meet civil aviation quirements the runways at Raro iga and Aitutaki would have to be tended to 6,000 ft.

On Rarotonga this would mean tending the present airstrip across ; coastal road and the lagoon, but ; Aitutaki airstrip could be leng ;ned with the minimum of expense d trouble. Aitutaki’s airstrip has a ral foundation, and this would ve to be checked for solidity be •e extension and sealing took place.

As a Pacific landing ground, Aitu d has advantages over Rarotonga.

The people of Aitutaki would Icome an influx of tourists, but .rotongans favour a cautious ap- Dach to the tourist industry. Some irs ago Aitutaki’s attractions wed popular with visitors when 5 island was a stop-over point on ' AL’s Coral Route to Tahiti.

Aitutaki’s waters abound in big tne fish. This could be developed o an added interest for tourists.

Phe Cook Islands Executive Com ttee (the shadow Cabinet) has luested New Zealand’s Aviation partment to advise on costs and practicability of developing Aitu i’s airstrip. The question of ether Electras should land at

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Rarotonga or Aitutaki will be debated during a forthcoming session of the Cooks Legislative Assembly.

Also discussed in Wellington was the possibility of an air feeder service between various Cook Islands. If this service eventuates it will be jointly-owned by the New Zealand and Cook Island Governments.

As reported in PIM in May, a West Australian firm has submitted proposals to the Cook Islands Gov ernment to establish an internal air service here. While this proposal is welcomed by the Cook Islands Government it is pointed out that official support for this would have to be withdrawn in favour of the jointly owned New Zealand-Cook Islands feeder service if it should eventuate.