MILSON AERODROME

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 247, 17 September 1932, Page 3

MILSON AERODROME

CONFERENCE TO CONSIDER ENDOWMENT.

A conference of representuti ves of the Palmerston North City Council, the Kairanga County Council, MilsOn Aerodrome Jnc., aiui IManawatu Aero Club was hold yesterday afternoon at the Council Chambers to discuss measures for tho permanent establishment and endowment of the Milson Aerodrome in the best interests of the district generally. Tho City Council was represented by Messrs W. L. Fitzherbort and J. Hodgens ; the County Council by Messrs D. Collis, Anderson and N. I. Nicl-en ; and Milson Aerodrome and Manawatu Aero Club by Messrs I). F. Smillie, M. H. Oram. W. A. Waters. G. W. Dixon, H. E. Edmunds, D. Watson, K. O. Chamberlain, L. 11. Collinson and A. H. Honeyfield. Mr Smillie, president of Milson Aerodrome, took the chair.

The chairman reviewed briefly the history of tiie establishment of the aerodrome and stated that tho society of citizens known as Milson Aerodrome Inc., which was originally formed for providing Palmerston North with an airport, had now fulfilled its purpose, and was prepared to hand over the property. together with a capital sum of £I7OO for its endowment, to a permanent official body which would ho prepared to permanently undertake tho administration and maintenance of the aerodrome in tho interests of the community. The question to he discussed was whether this was to he one of the existing local bodies, or whether a representative airport board should he established for tho purpose. Competent authorities had expressed the opinion that tho aerodrome was one of tho finest in Now Zealand. It had been brought to a high state of improvement and was in every way worthy of the city. The representatives of the local bodies present congratulated the founders of tho aerodrome on their initiative and enterprise in the interests of Palmerston North, and the state of perfection to which tho ground and equipment had been brought. They gave the assurance that the local bodies fully realised the importance of tho aerodrome as a modern civic necessity, and were prepared to give such support and cooperation as they were able towards its maintenance.

Several alternative proposals were considered for the permanent administration of the aerodrome and finally a definite proposal was drawn up tor submission by the representatives present to their respective bodies. Members of the Milson Aerodrome took the opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the assistance and consideration which the City Council and Kairanga County Council had extended towards the establishment of the aerodrome.