The Hutt News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1930. OUR AERODROME.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 25, 13 November 1930, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1930. OUR AERODROME.

**' Our readers will have gathered from the statement in our last ifßue that despite the determined -apposition by the members of the ' River Board to the proposition of the Wellington Aero Club to obtain a site for an aerodrame and \ sea-plane base on land over which the Board is at present-exercising jurisdiction, the matter is not yet finally determined. It was stated in the periodical report t>f the Engineer to the River Board (Mr. H. Sladden) that he is at present r engaged upon a survey "for the purpose of assisting to ascertain whether the area in question, (Scabby Island), is suitable for I the purpose of the Aero Club, and to arrive at an estimate of the probable cost of such filling that might be required by the Board -should it eventually be decided ! that the area be used for the purpose." In view of the decision of the River Board, at its meeting on the 7thjQctober refusing even to i consider the club's application for & lease of the required twenty acres for a term of ten years, save upon altogether impossible conditions as to reclamation, the news of this survey will come as a surprise to the persons interested. Presumably the Engineer, as he reported officially to the Board, is acting under instructions-from the Board, and not in his private capacity as a practising Engineer and Surveyor. And it will be gratifying to many to learn that there is a possibility of the hasty and ill-digested decision refusing to consider the granting of a lease on terms which would be accept- ' able to the Aero Club being reconsidered. It has already been pointed out that the area in questidin, whilst, admirably suited for the purpose for which it is 'asked, is at present, and will be for the next half century at least, entirely and absolutely useless. The very v idea of the Board utilising the power vested in it by "The "Hutt River and Reclamation Act 1922" to raise by way of loan the enormous sum necessary to carry out the reclamation scheme is urithink able such a proposition would most assuredly be rejected by the ratepayers by an overwhelming majority. And yet a careful perusal of the Act above referred to siakes it amply evident that the Testing of the lands therein referred to is contingent upon the carrying out, by the River Board, of the reclamation works, as set out in the agreement (which is incorporated in the Act), between the Wellington Harbour Board and the Hutt River Board. The fullest details as to the area affected, and the works to be carried out, and the estimated cost of the game are set out in the schedule to the Act, and the position of the respective parties is made as clear as is ever the case in a parliamentary enactment. To the ordinary lay mind it appears perfectly clear that if certain work, at a certain cost is done by the River Board on a certain area, then that certain area, subject to reservations in favour of the Crown and the Harbour Board, becomes vested in the River Board. Correspondingly it would also appear that unless the specified work is performed the area in question remains within the jurisdiction of the authority previously in control thereof. But it must be remembered that we make no pretensions to legal knowledge; the intricies of the law are matters; for the legal profession alone, «nd doubtless the parties, concerned are advised as to the legal status and rights to the matter. But that as it may, we are extremely pleased to glean that tiiere is a1 possibility of the River Board, or* itfnatever other authority that may be legally qualified to grant a lease giving facilities for the es-

tablishment of an aerodrome and sea-rplane base in this district, and so following the excellent and practical example set by local authorities in every other part of the Dominion.