THE HUTT AERODROME.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 25, 13 November 1930, Page 6

THE HUTT AERODROME.

As previously stated, we have been asked to repuifolish a resume of the facts in connection with the endeavour of the Wellington Aero Giub to secure a site in our midst for an aerodrome, and possibly a b.ase for'hydroplanes. The matter* being one of tno greatest importance to--the .welfare-of t/h.e dis•trietj we gladly comply with the request. Some. time ago the Committee of the Aero Club approached tne .mitt Haver Hoard with a view to securing a lease of part of Gear Island as a flying base. 'JLitte area sougnt to be leased was" in the opinion of tne experts best qualified to judge an" ideal one, and it was hoped' t&at the Uiver Boar a would, in view of the great importance. of the question ibe prepared to give the cluib every possible consideration,-but, in its wisdom, fche Board decided not to encourage the science of aviation, and leased the area for pastoral ana golf purposes. This action was in the bpin-" ion of a Jarge section of the community a mistake, and calculated to injuriously alfect the interests of the JSutt Valley. Nothing daunted by thia reverse, tdie Aero Club sought further for a site suit able for its purpose, and all well-wish-ers to the Butt were delighted when it was announced that another-site had been discovered at Scabey Island, which with the expenditure, of a few thousand pounds, a sum which the club is in a position to provide, could, toe made admirably suitable for the. purpose. iTue locality of the site is not very familiar to most of the residents of the Hrnrtt being situate in the reclamation area immediately south of tne Maori cemetery. At the present time farseeihg residents and property holders are using most strenuous efforts

to induce the Governmeiit to establish an air-ibase and- 'drome on the shores of Porirua Har-boui', and while tthat Bite has doubtless much, to recommend it, .there can too no possible comparison between that site and the area for -which. lug W&Ltingtoji Club haa applied. Its sheltered position and convenience of access from the City are factors, in addition to those already mentioned by the experts, make Sc&beyTsland incomparibly the bettersite: The club's application ,waß evidently looked .upon with scant favour by the great majority of toe members of the Board, and though a deputation to "explain, the present position in respect to a site for an aerodrome was received, and given a courteous hearing it was painfodly evident that a majority of the members were not sympathetic: It is useless to speculate as to the cause of the Board'a action in this regard. It is perfectly.

obvious that at present the area of 20 acres required is completely useless to the Board, or to anyone else, and as has been shown elsewhere, there is practically no possibility for many years to come of its being reclaimed for general puTposes. But it is now learned from the Engineer's report tiat despite the definite^ conclusion, arrived at by resolution, not to lease the land for the purposes f pr which it is -asked, save on preposterous conditions, that a survey is in pTogress to ascertain the cost of such reclamation as the Board

would reqaiire, and as to its suita/biHty for the purpose—a matter upon which the Aero Club and their experts have already amply satisfied themselves. What is tihe real object-of t£is survey it is difficult to imagine. Briefly put, the position .is this,- that the Board considers that certain lands over which

it claims jurisdiction which are not now, nor can they be for many years, of the slightest use to the people of the district should not be used for aviation purposes. The Club in return for a reasonable tenure would partially reclaim the land, and make excellent use of it forthwith. The Board cannot use the land itself, and seems determined that no one else shall have an opportunity of so doing.