THE AERODROME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 308, 27 November 1936, Page 2

THE AERODROME.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I would like to ask our City Fathers the reason for the unseemly haste to plunge the ratepayers of this city into an added load of debt over the local aerodrome, without details of what the result is likely to be on a.n already over-mortgaged city like Palmerston North, with one of the highest records for high rates in this Dominion. If this purchase of tlie aerodrome is such a good proposition, why prevent the present owners from forming it into a company as plenty of cheap money is now available? Why all this complaint about heavy Government taxes, and yet a proposal to add to the local taxpayers’ charges? Is it our City Fathers’ wish to have a second white elephant at that end of the city to keep the £220,000 power house company ? Then we are told in a bland sort of manner that the Government has already spent £40,000 on this aerodrome —our own money from unemployment and other taxes —and we are asked to buy it all over again. It is admitted in all countries that governments look on the taxpayer as the great milch cow to squeeze a little more out for all sorts of purposes between the usual milkings. Local government bodies not having such scientific machinery for this purpose usually have to put up with a “stripper” cow, and our local cow having been so often “stripped” it has been decided to use some gas in this instance in tho shape of propaganda to get the “juice” while she is feeling the effects of gas. What return will our council get in revenue from the proposed outlay, after allowing for upkeep, w r ages of staff, interest and incidentals? By comparison with the balance-sheets of aerodromes in operation outside this Dominion there will be a loss to show on this proposed outlay of £ls per week. Then the people will be treated to a fresh set of excuses. I am no “shellback,” but there is a good deal to be said for the old term of Aiderman in local bodies who had a good interest in his locality a.nd did not propose schemes for which he himself would have to foot the bill as well _ as his feljow ratepayers. We are living in times of change, and I would ask my fellow ratepayers to vote as required; it will be the only way to meet the high expense.—l am, etc., J. M. O’HAGAN.