MANGERE AS AN AIRPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22775, 8 July 1937, Page 15

MANGERE AS AN AIRPORT

Sir,—Since the start of the Auck-land-Wellington air service the Auck-land-public is beginning to take a keen interest in commercial aviation. It is time we realised that the construction of an airport close to our city is of vital importance. Mangere aerodrome has served us very well up to tlio present time and no doubt will always be a good position for an aero club and flying school, but as a commercial airport it is definitely too far from the heart of our city. There are many large cities in the world that are having to spend many thousands on a central airport. Our city is still young, and we should move in this matter before it is too late and too expensive. The main reason why the business man travels by air is to save time. When the new Auckland railway station was built people about to make a trip to Wellington by train complained of the station being too far from the centre of the city. The train journey takes 14 hours and the trip to the station five minutes. Auckland to Wellington by air takes three hours and the run from the aerodrome half an hour. In a very few years the air journey timo will no doubt be reduced to two hours, hut the road journey will remain the same. Close on £120,000 has recently been spent on a public golf links. Surely the lack of money will not be made an excuse to hinder the construction of a municipal commercial airport Foresight.