AIRPORT CONTROVERSY.

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 24 April 1935, Page 7

AIRPORT CONTROVERSY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—The letter of “Looking On,’’ published yesterday, is taken serious exception to by' the Aero Club. We consider that , some of the statements are slanderous and in particular to one gentleman whose public service ori the whole gives the direct lie. The statement that a “plot’’ was hatched itriplicates, riot only' the Aero Club, but his Worship the Mayor, who has been in active consultation with the officials of the Aero Club all through the piece, and who, according to “Looking On,’’ must therefore have been party to the “plot.’’ Could anything be more ridiculous? We desire fair criticism, but by no means will wo tolerate statements impugning the honour of the club or of individuals. —We are, etc., THE lIAWERA AERO CLUB (Inc.), W. F. BUIST, President. April, 24.

(To the Editor.) .Sir, —1 am indeed obliged to “Looking On’’ for making an explanation of his position as published in your paper of yesterday, for he has made it possible for us properly to assess the value of his contribution of thought on this matter. He assures his readers that he knows the whole history of the aerodrome “plot.’" He knows, too, we may assume, and as Dr. Buist has pointed out, that the whole scheme has been submitted to, and approved by, experts. Siriee he is, on his own admission, so well informed, can he tell us whether the opinion of any expert has been negative to the. project? I conclude that “Looking On’’ was not one of the experts consulted. He apparently did not have sufficient confidence in his own ability and/or judgment to come’ forward to advise either the Aero Club or the borough council that the scheme was so utterly impossible or as ridiculous as he now asks us to believe. If, however, he did come forward, neither of these bodies has based any value on his opinions, for the Aero Club proceeded with its scheme and the borough council did not disclose that its inaction was in any way influenced by the advice of an expert. That, I think, is the position of “Looking On” in its proper perspective. If he has been so well informed concerning the matter and has been so impressed with its futility, one would have expected hirii to have ventilated this ‘‘plot,’’ or shall I say “scandal,” long ere this. He states, inter alia, . • and the whole thing is. . . based on anticipation.” I submit that this is not the only thing in life based on anticipation. When Captain Cook undertook his second voyage to New Zealand he “anticipated” that it would still be where he found it the first time. We carry on orir work, "whether it be as boot-repairers or relief worker©, in “anticipation ” 6f some reward; in fact practically all our activities are actuated by anticipation. ,Some of our anticipations arc uncertain, others are assured. One thing which we can anticipate with certainty is that in the absence of air port facilities Hawera will not progress. To take for himself the credit of the ventilation of a mass of information hitherto alleged to have b’eeri held back “Looking On” ascribes to hiiriself something which obviously has resulted from everits for which I cannot see he is in any way entitled to take credit.—l am, etc., LOOKING FORWARD. Hawera, April 24, 1935.