ADMINISTRATION OF HAREWOOD

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27641, 23 April 1955, Page 6

ADMINISTRATION OF HAREWOOD

CONTROL BY CITY ' COUNCIL

STATE AGREEMENT IN DISPUTE

“The whole matter of Harewood H in a most unsatisfactory state,” the Mayor (Mr R. M. Macfdrlane. M.P.) told the City Council last evenirigj; “The agreement is not worth the paper it is written on. The Government » cavilling at the handing over of certain buildings.” On the agreement for the council to; take over the *administration of Harewood, the Mayor said he would report in committee, but other matters had been raised by the Government and the agreement on the original basis was completely discounted. Cr. T. H. McCombs said the Govnow referred to the agreement. which the City Council had ratified, and was operating, as a draft agreement, and said an amended agreement was being prepared. The Mayor: Substantial amendments.; too. The council should go ahead and engage architects for the preparation* of plans for a permanent terminal building at Harewood, said Cr. A. H Guthrey. If the Government was not prepared to help, he considered the* Council should erect*the building at its own expense, and it could be mak-i ng preparations now. “I could never be in favour of the ratepayers meeting the whole of the-' cost,” said the Mayor. “Unless the Government is prepared to meet it* share this council should not be prepared to pay one penny piece.” i It was a pity that the joint airport committee, which had done some useful work.' had not been called together before the Minister in charge of Civil' Aviation (Mr T. P. Shand) met x the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, said Cr. McCombs. He still regretted that the chamber had concurred with the Minister’s view, although it had now recanted. He thought the com-' mittee could be resuscitated, although it would need to be reorganised now. that an airport committee of the coun-. cil was functioning. The Government had the right to say the council could not erect build* mgs, he said. Cr. Guthrey: I don’t think we need, to consider that. ‘‘No buildings may be erected or aerodromes without prior Government: approval,’’ said Cr. McCombs. “That is a major difficulty which it may not be easy to get round.”