CLUB AND COUNCIL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 144, 21 June 1930, Page 10

CLUB AND COUNCIL

"GENEROUS TREATMENT"

THE MAYOR'S EEPLY

f The Mayor, Mr. G. A. Troup, to-day replied to the secretary of tho Wellington Aero Club, Mr. N. M'Arthur, who yesterday voiced a protest against the decision of tho City Council on Thursday evening to increase the charges to the club by £,100 per machine over the'first two 'planes. The council, Mr. Troup maintains, has given the club very generous treatment.

"The City Council,"said Mr. Troup, "has set aside a large area of laud, about 60 acres, the value of which would be anything from £1000 to £1500 per acre, as an airport,, say a total value of £75,000. Interest on tho value of this laud, putting it at £62,500—the mean between the values of CO acres at £1000 and at £1500 per acre— at 5 per cent, would be £3125. Buildings have been erected, a caretaker has been employed, and the annual working expenses of the council in maintaining the area will be an additional £500, so that tho rental of this property would bo say £3600.

"The council has practically giveu over this property to tho Aero Club, j which is being asked to pay £500 per annum for housing and flying four machines. At the present time the club has two machines, for which it pays £300 (£l5O for each machine) to the council. Two more machines are to be brought into-uso shortly, and for these the council has agreed 'to reduce the charges to £100 per machine, making a tot.il of £500 for the-four aeroplanes. For this sum the council provides housing accommodation, workshop accommodation, and no additional charge is made for flying from or alighting on the area. , NOT THE COUNCIL'S OBLIGATION. "It will be realised, then," said Mr. Troup, "that the council's contribution towards, flying is a very substantial one. Tho obligation" of teaching men to fly is not' one of the City Council's; it is one for tho Government. It might just as reasonably be requested that tho municipalities should undertake the expense of the defence of the country. "It must'also be borne in mind that this area would have been very useful for general sports purposes, and while tho council has set it apart for aviation purposes it means that additional grounds will in futuro havo to be found elsewhere. "I consider that the council has dealt most generously with tho Aero Club, and has done more to help aviation than any other municipality in New Zealand. If the club is in financial difficulties the proper course is to obtain redress from the Government, but I would like to have a statement from the club to its assets at the present time. Until Mr. M(Arthur gives this information the public are not in possession of the facts from which to know what the club can afford and what it cannot afford, to pa}-."