AUCKLAND AIRPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22193, 21 August 1935, Page 14

AUCKLAND AIRPORT

EARLY ACTION DESIRABLE CONFERENCE PROPOSED SUGGESTION TO MAYOR A suggestion thnt, a public meeting should be convened of those interested in the establishment -of adequate airport facilities in Auckland is made in a letter to the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, from Mr. Gainor Jackson, president of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The matter was discussed «t a recent meeting of the council. " Now that communication by air service is becoming very general and there is every prospect that Auckland will bo linked by air service with the southern ports in the nenr future, as well as by seaplane service with Australia, this matter becomes of immediate moment," statos the letter. " 1 he suggestion has been made that the establishment of an airport might bo made the subject of a centenary effort, if effect cannot be given to the matter at an earlier date. The chamber is of the opinion that the question of a site is essentially a matter for experts, but in any site selected provision should be made for both aeroplanes and seaplanes. Further, the airport should be as close as possible to the heart of the citj b\ direct communication."

HARBOUR BOARD'S PART EXPERT ADVICE SOUGHT The. fact that he and the board's engineer. Mr. D. Holderness, had been investigating for several months the question of providing a suitable aiiport for Auckland was mentioned by the chairman, Mr. C. G. Macindoe. at a meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board yesterday. The subject was introduced by Mr. E. J. Phelan. who asked whether the board was aware of the acti\ ities that were going on to provide an airport, and, if so, what steps were being taken by the board. "I have been actively engaged in considering this question, which means so much to the port of Auckland," said the chairman. "Although I have not brought down any report, as we have not as yet got any concrete proposal, the whole matter is under consideration. I have been in consultation with our engineer concerning sites and I hope I will be able to bring down something in a week or two." The chairman said he and the engineer had been in communication with both Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr. Harold Gatty when they were in Auckland. Mr. Gatty would be consulted again when he returned to New Zealand from Australia. " The importance of the project is realised by tho board, and we are doing our utmost to provide suitable facilities for aeroplanes and seaplanes."

CONCERN AT DARGAVILLE NEED FOR FACILITIES [by teleghafh —OW>- correspondent] DARGAVILLE. Tuesday The fear that if some action were not taken immediately for the provision of an aerodrome, Dargaville would be side-tracked, was expressed by the deputy-mayor, Mr. J. A. McLean, at last evening's meeting of the Borough Council. The remark was made when the Mayor, Mr. F. A. Jones, said that there was nothing further to report regarding an aerodrome site for the town. It was decided to call a public meeting and invite Mr. A. S. Gibson, aerodrome engineer to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, to deliver an address. Mr. Gibson inspected three proposed sites about three months ago, but nothing further has been done. During the last few years the Dargaville Racing Club's course has been used as a landing ground successfully and it is thought that, with small alteration, this could he made a permanent site for an aerodrome.