STRATFORD AERODROME SITE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 18 September 1934, Page 9

STRATFORD AERODROME SITE

PROPER DRAINAGE IMPOSSIBLE

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S CRITICISM

That the site selected for the proposed aerodrome at Stratford was unsuitable for either farming or aviation was the opinion expressed by several members at last night’s meeting of the Stratford Borough Council. It was stated that the land was underlaid by a hard pan which would prevent its being properly drained and that the council” might be committed to a scheme that would be extremely costly and unsatisfactory. It was further suggested that the public meeting which approved the scheme was “packed with aviation men.’’ The mayor (Mr J. W. McMillan) explained that under the proposals offered the council the Public Works Department was responsible for placing the land in a state that would satisfy the Avia-, tion Department and be suitable for farming, and he would not consent to any other Terms without reference to the council.

“I visited the site in company with two practical men, and- I can only conclude that the place cannot be worked property as a farm,” Or. R. F. Harkness commented as he launched an attack on the scheme. Driving with an iron pipe showed that there was a hard pan under the area that would present a huge handicap to successful draining, as it was only about 18 inches below the surface of the land, which was choked with timber, blackberry, ragwort and potholes full of water. The council would need to proceed very slowly and carefully on the matter, and he would want a full report before he consented to adoption of the proposals. He alleged there was some influence behind the scheme to have the land sold to the council. It would be extremely difficult and costly to make the land suitable for aviation or farming. One hundred men could be put to work there and lost in twelve months. He did not want to stop the town from obtaining an aerodrome,: which was needed, but not at the proposed site.

“The public meeting that approved of the scheme was a ‘packed’ meeting attended by men interested in aviation,’’ he continued. “The same thing happened when he had a meeting to decide the site for the grandstand in the park. That meeting was ‘packed’ with members of the Athletic Club, and the stand was .put in the wrong place. It may be the same in this case. The ratepayers were at fault in not attending the meeting, hut we are blundering into this and paying £25 an acre for land worth only £l2 or £13.”

Cr. C. H. Speck was sure the land could not be drained properly, and maintained that the closest investigation should be made. The land was not suitable for farming unless It was obtained very cheaply. The Town Clerk (Mr P. Skoglund) pointed out that engineers of the Public Works Department from Wellington would inspect the site this week and would make a full report.

The Mayor: The department offered to make the area safe for aviation and suitable for farming. No matter what that costs we are not affected. If there is any alteration in those terms we will not go on with it. Cr. Speck: We should have a report from an independent engineer. The Public Works Department built a railway up to the mountain at a cost of £IOO,OOO to get stone and there was never a boulder brought out. “Well we will see what the engineers say about it,” the mayor said. “I was assured that the department could drain the land despite the hard pan,” he added. Cr. Speck: How? The Mayor: I don’t know; it’s not my place to question the department as to how it intends to do the job. Cr. Harkness: What if the report is adverse?

The Mayor: Then we will mot go on with it.