WELLINGTON AERO CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 12

WELLINGTON AERO CLUB.

CITY INCREASES RENT.

OBJECTION TO CHARGE

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Friday.

A strong protest against the decision of tho Wellington City Council to charge an extra £IOO a year for every aeroplane used by the Wellington Aero Club in excess of two until December 31 next was made by the secretary of the club, Mr. N. McArthur, to-day. "The rent of £3OO a year changed i>y tlia City Council beforo passing this resolution," said Mr. McArthur, "is the highest charged for any aerodrome in New Zealand. Auckland pays less than half that (£140). Canterbury pays only £5. and the rents charged Marlborough and Hawke's Bay are purely nominal.' "The position is that the City Council is asking the club to carry the whole burden and make the airport pay, while the club considors that its duty is to teach the young people ta fly at a nominal cost. To train pupils does not pay the club.

"A landing charge of 2s is made by tho City Council on any aeroplane landing at Rongolai. But the machines lent by tho Government are for training pupils for defence purposes, and in view of the assistance already given by the Government, both to the City Council and to the encouragement of flying, it is very questionable whether the council has a justifiable claim for landing fees on these Government machines. "It would be much better if the Aero Club was given the control of the aerodrome, and the right to collect landing fees, and charge for the services of the ground engineer, hut this suggestion did not meet with tho approval of the City Council."-