AERODROME QUESTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 82, 16 June 1944, Page 5

AERODROME QUESTION

WILL NOT BE DROPPED

BOROUGH COUNCIL DETER-

MINED

After instigating the latest agitation for the establishment of a district aerodrome, the decision of the County Council to suddenly drop the project under the plea that such undertakings should be national responsibilities, had the anticipated l effect upon the Whakatane Borough Council laslt Monday evening. The Council which had been invited' to collaborate was at first critical, and later determined 1 to carry on with the project by seeking a reapproachment to the County Council. The Mayor observed that, he thought the County Council had been the moving body. It was hard to understand the new attitude. The. County Council was composed of good sound members, declared Cr A. J. Canning, but they lacked possibly the business acumen to be found elsewhere. Communities had to have an eye to the future in these days when events moved so quickly. He would like the County to be asked to reconsider its decision before dismissing it altogether. The Deputy-Mayor considered it the responsibilit3 r of local bodies to keep the matter of an airport coni■stantly before the people.. No doubt the County would have co-operated over the question of the Te Teko plantation site, but it appeared that! any other was not favoured. "It would be a mistake to drop the matter," said His Worship.' "Even if it becomes a national responsibility it is necessary for us to keep in the limelight or we will be missed altogether." Cr Creeke objected to the. fact that, the County Council had the habit of first, blowing hot, and then cold. He considered that a round-the-table discussion would do a lot of good. On the motion of Cr Sullivan it was decided to form a deputation of •the. whole Council to; meet with the County Council and to go thoroughly into the matter.