Untitled

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 12

AN INQUIRY NEEDED

Councillor Butler, commenting upon the remarks made by Mr. A. R. Hislop, said that he was pleased that Mr. Hislop did agree that the fullest investigation should be made of all possible sites, but by investigation he (Councillor Butler) did not mean an inspection of the several areas by eye, from the ground or from nearby hills or from the air, nor a summing up of weather conditions from impressions, but an investigation by ordered observation. Mr. Hislop had quoted Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as having expressed the opinion that Rongotai could be made into a first-class commercial aerodrome, but at another time Sir Charles had also expressed himself quite differently and had, in fact, condemned the idea of further expensive development. As to the suggestion made by the technical committee of the Chamber of Commerce that it a series of groynes were placed on the Lyall Bay foreshore, said Councillor Butler; tho small scale experiment which was made with a single groyne had not been overpromising, though there were possibilities in the idea. "Mr. Hislop," he continued, "instanced the way which a great area of splendid beach had been built up at Timaru after the building of the breakwater. I don't know Timaru well, but I know, of course, of the very fine beach there, but the weak point is that the beach has taken forty or fifty years to build itself. We cannot wait."

Councillor Butler said that he agreed with Mr. Hislop that the opposition to the development of Rongotai was increasing, and the people of Wellington, who would have to meet the bill, were not going to be happy about spending a further £128,000 unless it was shown to their satisfaction that the gains, balanced against the losses, were to be worth the money. The whole question would be discussed at an early meeting of the City Council, and, he- had no doubt, a detailed inquiry and the keeping of ordered records and instrument readings would be decided upon.