EARLY START.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 206, 1 September 1938, Page 15

EARLY START.

AIRPORT SURVEYS. 'CONFERENCE SEES NEED. WIDE SCOPE OF WORK. An early start is expected to be made with the preliminary survey investigations or the Manukau airport site, as a result of decisions reached last night by a further conference of representatives of the Auckland City Council and other metropolitan local bodies. Since the sum of £1874, by way of contribution from the local authorities and the Government, is now available, the conference recommended an immediate commencement of the survey, at an estimated cost not exceeding £2000.

The conference at the same time signified its willingness to have the City Council, for the purpose of carrying out the preliminary survey investigations, gazetted as a recognised aviation authority under the TJbeal Authorities (Aviation Encouragement) Act. This step i& the result of inquiries made as to the authorisation of expenditure by local bodies on the survev coste.

"In view of the possibility of the establishment in Auckland of the Tasinan air base, it behoves local authorities to prea* forward with the work under review, particularly as it will, without doubt, act as -a definite feeder. ■«ervice,*',- said vM%of, Sir Ernest Da,vis, who presided. Gratified by the response received from the local Sir Ernest intends to recommend to the City Council at its meeting to-morrow night that authority be given for an immediate start with the preliminary eurvey. Sir Ernest explained that at'the conference in July he was given authority to request all dissenting local bodies to reconeider their decisions in connection with the contribution to the cost of the survey. Out of the 24 bodies so approached, 10 had now expressed their willingness to contribute in this way, five had declined, and no replies had been received from the remaining three. The amount promised so far was £874 4/, the amount declined £55 6/, and that for which there were as yet no replies £70 10/. Since the Government had promised a-subsidy of half the cost up to £1000, the total available was £1874 4/. • The bodies. which have so faY maintained 1 the attitude of non-contribution to the survey cost are- Birkenhead (allocation £11 10/), Takapuna (£26), Manure wa (£5 8/), Henderson (£3 10/), and Papatoetoe ( £8 18/). The requirements of the Public Works Department with regard to the preliminary survey were also summarised by Sir Ernest. These entailed a complete close contour survey of the whole area, including the area over which "borrow pits" might be excavated, a soil survey and report on soil mechanics, complete meteorological data for the locality over a period of two years, and a survey of obstructions in a zone of one mile from the proposed airport boundary in all directions.

Engineering .plans of the scheme would also T)e required. These must show several details of the proposed landing strips, location and design of the area set aside for buildings, road access, sewerage and drainage. Proposals for water and power supply and a detailed estimate of the cost of the work in the initial and final stages would also be needed, together with any further information which the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, considered would have a bearing on the scheme. It was because of the necessarily comprehensive nature of the survey that Sir Ernest saw an early start advisable. He pointed out that it was not intended that those local authorities which had already expressed their willingness to participate in the preliminary work would be called upon to contribute further in this respect. It was proposed that any difference between the estimated amount and the amount promised would be borne by the City Council or, if they agreed, other local bodies which had not already contributed.