AIRPORT LOAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 310, 28 November 1936, Page 8

AIRPORT LOAN.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The apathy of Palmerstonians on many occasions has been demonstrated, and really it is a remarkable thing that so little civic pride is shown. It is because the city through its wonderful geographical situation secures so much without any effort on its part. Other towns and cities have to work hard to get anything at all, and as a result their citizens are worked up so often that their civic pride is kept fanned. New Plymouth, for instance, has a mountain which makes a wonderful landfall for all Tasman fliers, but when fliers arrive over the north end of the South Island or on the NinetyMile Beach the “draw” of the mountain seems to be more imagined than real. Then Wellington spends anything up to £IOO,OOO on its airport, but the weather in the Capital City is such that some days in the month no ’plane caii land at or leave the aerodrome. Auckland proposes to spend £113,000 on an airport—and there is already one at Mangere—and Timaru is purchasing a site at £13,000. At Dunedin the aerodrome is about 12 miles from the city. Whatever the difficulties met with at these places the citizens go out to overcome them, for they realise that airtransport is coming, and coming rapidly-. In Palmerston North everything is in favour of our having the largest and most important commercial airport in New Zealand. What have the city or citizens done to warrant this great gift? Apart from the efforts of a handful of enthusiasts we have done precious little. Now we have the opportunity of rising to the occasion. We need only to spare a few minutes on Wednesday next from our valuable time to go along to a polling booth and indicate on a piece of paper that we are in favour of the loan for £20,000. If every ratepayer makes a point of voting, and I suggest voting in favour of the loan, then I am sure the city will show to outsiders that it does appreciate and value the opportunity of procuring an airport at 6s 8d in the £.—l am, etc., - CIVIC PRIDE.