RENT OF AERO CLUB.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20597, 23 June 1930, Page 10

RENT OF AERO CLUB.

POSITION AT WELLINGTON.

MAYOR REPLIES TO PROTEST.

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

' The Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, has replied to the secretary of the [Wellington Aero Club, Mr. N. McArthur, who had protested. against the decision of the Wellington City Council to increase the charges to the club by £IOO for each machine over the first two aeroplanes. . The council, Mr. Troup maintains, has given the club very generous treatment The City Council has set aside a large area of land, about 60 acres, the value of which would be anything from £IOOO to £ISOO an acre, as an aifport, say a total value of £75,000. Interest on the value of this land, putting it at £62,500, the mean between the values of 60 acres at £IOOO and at £ISOO an acre, at 5 per cent., would be £3125.

Buildings have been erected, a caretaker has been employed, and the annual working expenses of the council in maintaining the area will be an additional £SOO, eo that the rent of this property would be, say, £3600. The council has practically given over this propertyto the Aero Club, which is being asked to pay £SOO per annum for housing and flying four machines.

At the present time the club has two machines, for which it pays £3OO to the council. Two more machines are to be brought into use shortly, And for these the council lias agreed to reduce the charges to £IOO for each machine. The council provides housing accommodation and workshop accommodation, and no additional charge is made for flying from or alighting on the area. ■, "It will be realised, then," said Mr. Troup, "that the council's contribution toward flying is a very substantial one. The obligation of teaching men to fly is not one for the City Council, it is one for the Government. It. might just as reasonably be requested that the municipalities should undertake the expense of the defence of the country. "It must- also be borne in mind that this area would have been very useful for general sports purposes, 'and while the council has set it apart for aviation purposes it means that additional grounds will in future have to be found elsewhere. I consider that the council has dealt most generously with the Aero Club, and has done more to help aviation than any other municipality in New Zealand. "If the club is in financial difficulties the proper course is to obtain redress from the. Government. But I would like to have a statement from the club as to its assets. At the present time the public is not in possession of the facts from which to know what the club can afford and what it cannot'afford to pay."