LEVIN AERODROME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 224, 21 August 1935, Page 14

LEVIN AERODROME.

COUNCIL LEASES AREA. The Levin Borough Council decided, this week, to lease an area of ground on Tararua Road, at present being used as an aerodrome, for ten years at £4O u year lor the first five years and £(>o a year for the balance of the term. The lease is to commence from October 1 and Levin will now have a permanent aerodrome. The Mayor (Mr P. IV. Goldsmith) stated that whether the council should provide an aerodrome for the town or not was a very important matter. For some considerable time the piece oi ground had been used by visiting ’planes like the Southern Cross and Faith in Australia as well as local machines. The question of the development of aviation was, of course, somewhat in the lap of the gods ns far as small towns were concerned, but the future seemed to point to a great development and the question was whether the borough and the town was in a position to provide an aerodrome:-' The council now had to place before the department in charge of aviation the tact that it had acquired the use of tlie property for a period of not less than ten years in order to have improvements carried out to make the ground absolutely suitable for flying. This work included the removal of certain fences, the construction of others, levelling of certain parts of the ground and sowing of grass seed, but the department would not consider undertaking it unless a ten-year tenure was obtained. Ho felt that to turn down the offer of a highly suitable piece of ground at an expenditure of such a small amount, would he very serious indeed. He felt the council was justified in the expenditure and moved that the offer ne accepted. Cr I). P. Todd seconded the motion, which, after a brief discussion, was carried.