THE AERODROME

Evening Post, Issue 47, 23 August 1935, Page 10

THE AERODROME

£12,000 SCHEME

COUNCIL APPROVES

AN OPINION ON BOARD

The City Council today gave approval to the proposals of the airport committee for the first and second sections of the scheme for. the improvement of- Rongotai aerodrome to make it suitable for the handling of all types of commercial machines; During.the discussion the- position of the Transport Co-ordination . Board as judge, jury, and appeal board, in' the matter of licensing air services was pointedly commented upon.

The committee's report was as follows:—

That authority be granted for the following preliminary work to be put in Hand in connection, with a scheme prepared by the City Engineer for improvements' at Rongotai aerodrome at.an estimated costof- £12,000", subject to: the approval: of the Director .of; Air Services- and the. Transport Co-ordination Board,, to ; whom the Town Clerk-is to submit the proposals and also invite 'the -board to inspect the model aerodrome: —(a) Re-location of Lyall Parade between Kingsford Smith Street and Moa Point; (b) the lowering of the fence on the .southern side of the aerodrome; (c) grading of the whole surface of the aerodrome to. bring it up to the required smoothness; (d) re-location of ) Kingsford Smith Street (c) the filling of a sand pit with spoil from Moa .Point; (f) alteration of the level of the recreation ground north ' of' the' paving plant; (g) -removal-of the paving plant. ■

That the question .of, proceeding with excavation work, at. the top of Ivloa Point and filling in portion o£ Lyall Bay he hekj in abeyance in the meantime; but 'that the Transport Co-ordination Board he informed that the council has decided to acquire an area of" 30 acres for the purpose of ■ giving effect to this work. , That authority^ be'granted for, the erection of 'an' administration block :at the -Rorigotai" aerodrome to; cost approximately £1500, portion .of which is to be used- as a --waiting-room by companies operating, at--the; aerodrome, subject-to-a contribution be^ ing received from the Cook Strait Airways and to the Mayor being able to' arrange for the. balance of- the money required. ' THE SEAWALL. Councillor R. McKeen, M.P., said that the nearby residents were somewhat perturbed about the seafront road. The Mayor said that there ■ was not' the slightest risk- of interference with the beach. Councillor-McKeen said that the residents were-very much in earnest, about • it. 'There' was a proposal to take out an injunction against the council. The Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, said that'there was -at present.no proposal to- build■,a wall. V That: would be-! a subsequent development. "You can take it definitely that there wlil.be no interference with the beach under this scheme," said Mr.-Hislop. ' The.iwork proposed; vhe continued; would result in a very : considerable improvement to the landing .field; making possible a much more effective runway. Councillor McKeen said that it was proposed to ; take in,two playing areas. Already the city had not sufficient playing grounds. The bitumen plant should be shifted at, the' earliest possible mpment. Mr. Hislop:That will be done.though it will be necessary to run iff or some little time. Councillor McKeen suggested that the plant might be.'located near the'Miramar Wharf. STANDARD KATES SHOULD BE PAID. He went on to say that he was opposed to .the ywork at the. aerodrome being done under the• amended Np.-5 scheme. The work should be doiie on a forty-hour week at standard rates! Councillor P. M. Butler agreed .with the latter point, remarking that one could not visualise the Harbour Board undertaking harbour.and berthing improvements, with relief labour. Forty hours and standard rates' and, conditions .should; be the conditions observed. Councillor Butler said that apparently the Wellington City Council had so far made no approach to the Government for financial. assistance. The Mayor said that.everyone.would prefer to see the : men work a full forty-hour week, but it was essential that the aerodrome should be put into order by the end of the year, by..which time two companies, would definitely be operating, and the council had not the money to pay full/rates at standard conditions. Councillor McKeen-said that so far the Government had not come: into the scheme. • The council should approach the Government in order to find the balance of themoney to employ the men on a, forty-hour -week". Mr. Hislop: I. ami quite.agreeable to. see what we can do. At the moment, he continued, the council had a. certain number of mcii working at the aerodrome, and they could continue .in -the meantime, if the council would agree to the question of finance standing over till the next meeting, during .which- time he would take the matter up with the Un-j employment Board' iand any other sources :from which the council might receive financial- assistance. MORE THAN A LOCAL MATTER. Councillor W. Appleton said that he was very pleased : that a definite. step had been, taken, for citizens had wanted to see Rongotai made a satisfactory airport for a long time. ,He also thought - that, the council, should ask the. Government for assistance such as had been given to ' other centres for aerodrome improvement, for the development of Rongqtai was much more- than of merely .local importance. He quite agreed that the men should work.the full, forty hours at' standard rates and conditions. POWER OF TRANSPORT BOARD. "If this was Auckland-every member of Parliament; no' matter what1 his party, would be working in co-opera-tion with other .members to bring all the that can.be brought" to bear to" alter the conditions that are facing us ' today," said Councillor L. McKenzie, referring to the decisions of the Transport Co-ordination Board. "They should get together to object to the Transport Co-ordination Board being in such, a paramount position that it can be judge, jury, and the last word in .appeal:. If is a retrograde order; and; is absolutely against the democratic • principles on which our nation'depends. Mr.' Hislop:' Hear, hear! Councillor McKenzie said that there should be the right to appeal to an^ other body against, an: injustice that might be done. He was one of the deputation which attended the last sitting of the board, and he was not impressed at all. The Mayor said he agreed that the matter was of very real importance, but Councillor McKenzie must realise that.he was out of order in introducing the board into the discussion. Councillor McKenzie: That' may- be

so, but the very future' of this airport and-the-scheme of development depends upon the attitude the board takes up. It is of paramount importance, to my mind. ' ," '! : ':_ .":

: . The Mayor: Yes,, but-..it^is out,of order at this stage, and; if I allow you to continue I must allow other speakers. • • - ■---.:• :

In reply to "further -." points •;; from Councillor McKenzie, .Mr. Hislop said that the City ■ Engineer was acting in consultation with the Director of Air Services, and before being. proceeded with the scheme of. development would have to receive the approval of WingCommander Wilkes and the Transport Co-ordination Board. : :

'.Councillor' McKerizie said that a deSuite arrangement should- be made with the Government as to finance \vith_ the least possible delay. "The council," he concluded, "must.be:grate■fulto the Chamber of Commerce for the backing they gave before the board,-and I do wish to impress\upon members of Parliament the necessity for getting, together in this matter."

. Councillor W. Duncan has given notice that at the next meeting of the council he will' move: "That the resolution passed at the council meeting held on August 15, transferring the administration of : the Rongotai aerodrome to the City Engineer's Department be - : rescinded." '