DELAY CAUSES CONCERN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 4

DELAY CAUSES CONCERN

ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK AT AERODROME HARBOUR BOARD DESIRES EARLY DECISION PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS CONSIDERED CRUDE Concern at the hold-up of plans for the administrative block at the new aerodrome was expressed by the Nelson Harbour Board last evening, and it was decided to press the Government to provide plans or to allow the board to proceed with its own plans.

Mr A. R. Kingsford referred to the unsatisfactory state of affairs in regard to the administration block at the aerodrome. There was a feeling in the minds of some of the public that the board had been dilatory in the matter, but the board could not make any headway as far as the department was concerned in getting finality Local architects had drawn up plans for the block many months ago. and the Government had not intimated that they had to conform to standardised plans When the board representatives went to Wellington they were told that the department was going to design plans for the aerodrome. Cook Strait Airways were working at a considerable inconvenience to themselves and their passengers, and the board should do something to get the department to move definitely and give the board plans or let them go ahead with their own. The board knew what was wanted, and had a sum of money which it was prepared to spend When the block was up consideration could be given to the appointment of a groundsman or custodian.

Mr H. W. Chisnall considered that as the board had to foot the bill it should have the say. The chairman. Mr A. Gould, pointed >ut that the board had said that it would go up to £3500 as its limit for the administration block. They had been told that there was no money available from the Government but they had been expecting plans for the last three months. The board was an anxious to get these buildings as anyone in the air service The present arrangements were as crude as anything they had ever seen The Government had said that they were going to standardise all aerodrome buildings in New Zealand Mr Kingsford said he did not want to be unfair to the Air Department, for the department had had numerous requests from all over New Zealand, but if only they would tell the board what they wanted embodied in the building the board would know what to do A building costing £IO.OOO was not necessary here, but the block needed to be built so that it could be added to as the service expanded.

Mr J H. Brunt suggested that they should ask what was the minimum they could start with. They must have the administration block before the winter He moved that the deputy chairman, Mr Kingsford. telephone to the department in Wellington, confer with the board’s chairman, and take what action was considered necessary The chairman suggested that the local Public Works Department be interviewed first.

This was agreed to and the motion was carried