BELL BLOCK AERODROME.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 August 1929, Page 4

BELL BLOCK AERODROME.

ACQUISITION AND MA.LVTESIANDK.PROPOSALS TO LOCAL BODIES.. Proposals in connection with i.ilie establishment of an aerodrome at Boil Blank (.New Plymouth) wore before Die Opunake County Council yesterday, wiiien a communication was received from Die secretary of tliei North Taranaki Aviation Committee (Mr l l '. T. JiellringerJ giving particulars, of resolutions adopted by the committee at a meeting iield on August 8. Tire council resolved to take no definite action at present on lines suggested (by the committee. Trie letter requested that local bodies and 1 chambers, qt commerce in the North Taranaki district, which had not ye t done so, idiould appoint representatives to the committee. The meeting of August 8 had been attended by representatives or the New Plymouth Borougiii, the Clifton, Taranaki, and Inglewood counties at the New Plymouth Aero Oluib. The aviation committee recommend-; ed that the local bodies of Northern Taranaki, being the Diglewood, Waii tara, and New Plymouth Borough j Councils, Opunake Town Board, Taranaki, Inglewood, Egmont and Clifton County Counoils definitely approve of the establishment as a joint venture, through the agency of the New Plymouth Aero Club, of an aerodrome to serve the districts in respect of widen those local 'bodies’ had jurisdiction and that the site selected by the New Plymouth Aerct Oluib at Bell Block be adopted subject to satisfactory arrangements for its ultimate acquisition on behalf of the local bodies mentioned. , Pending the arrangements being made the local authorities were recoindencled to contribute to tlie cost of putting the aerodrome in, suitable order for the purpose of instruction of pupils in flying in the terms of the present lease of the property held by the Aero Club, tlie cost of the improvements to. be approved by the committee anti borne by the local bodies in tlie same proportions in winch contributions were made toi tlie funds of the Egmont National Park Board. Tlie improvements suggested, exclusive of the cost of levelling and gra.ssing 40 acres and metalling a right of way, were estimated to cost approximately £330. When the communication was received by tlie council the chairman (Or. W. C. Green) referred to a copy of the proposed Aviation Act, under which local bodies would ibe empowered to contribute to the funds of «. recognised aviation authority, grant tlie us© of land for aerodromes or estalblish and maintain aerodromes. Or. ,T. S. Tosland gave the opinion that the. council should not a.t the present juncture commit the’ county ratepayers in any way in the matter. On the motion of Gr E. G. Holmes consideration was deferred.