AIRPORT SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22818, 27 August 1937, Page 14

AIRPORT SCHEME

POINT ENGLAND SITE LOCAL BODIES' ATTITUDE SECOND REQUEST FOR VIEWS Owing to the small response made by other local boilies in the metropolitan area to the City Council's request for their views 011 the suggested joint purchase of the Point England airport site, they are being approached a second time at the instance of the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and are asked to treat the matter as urgent.

In a statement presented to the council Inst, night, the Mayor said that in recent weeks a good deal of anxiety had been evident in regard to the possibility that Auckland might not bo chosen as the terminal of tho Pacific and Tasman air services. "To my mind, these fears- are groundless," ho added. "Situated as it is, and with its facilities for ready connection with tho Dominion's internal air services, which have already been established, Auckland has an unassailable claim for preferment." ~ After referring to the council's investigation of the Point England project at considerable trouble and expense, the Mayor pointed out that, in the opinion of experts, the present plan for .developing the Mangere aerodrome would meet the requirements of Auckland'for.some time to come, but that it was advisable to make provision for carrying out the larger scheme in future. . When the proposal was brought under the notice of the Government, he suggested that, if the local bodies in the metropolitan area made themselves responsible., for acquiring the Point England site> tho Government might consider developing it. The Government (lid not commit itself ou the matter, but an arrangement was made that it should be resubmitted after he had ascertained to what extent the local bodies would participate. It was to be regretted that so far only six local bodies out of 22 approached had replied to the inquiry, and only two had indicated their support for the scheme. As the matter had been raised'in *the first place with a number of others, he had instructed tho town clerk to write again to the local bodies, asking them to consider it as a separate issue and as one of urgency, in order that the Government might bo informed without delay how matters stood. The Mayor's action was endorsed. SHOW BUILDING THE MAYOR'S PROPOSAL COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE "Councillors may have noticed the suggestion 1 made, when opening the Auckland Winter Exhibition, concerning the possibility of-the establishment -in Auckland of dn Olynipia building," said the Mayor,' Sir Ernest Davis, in a report to the City Council last night. "My point -was, and is," said Sir Ernest, "that as Auckland is tho centre of 'developing areas to the north and thq south, one must look forward to the day when it will be practicable to maintain here an Olynipia,, for the holding of annual exhibitions and shows and . other forms of public entertainment which necessitate the ( tise of large enclosed spaces, and -which would provide required facilities alike for exhibitors and members of the public. , , "Such-a public amenity, to my mind, falls in the same, category as tho Museum,. the Public Library,-tho Art Gallery and tile Zoological Park, and for its-r provision- the responsibility might well bo spread .between tho meirop.qlita.i municipal authorities and all the other interested parties. _"I should be happy to bo associated with any recognised movement which has as its objective the establishment under proper control and management of a public facility of the character referred to. It is one which a city of the size and importance of Auckland reasonably can be expected to provide." The Mayor added that he had merely raised the issue, and he would recommend that the Property Committee, at its convenience, should explore the proposal and report to the council its opinion whether it was practicable or not. The report was referred to tho Property Committee for a report.

FREEZING STORE HEIGHT LIMIT IMPOSED MUST NOT EXCEED 80 FEET Limitation of the height of the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company's now cold storage building on the eastern reclamation was suggested by the city engineer, Mr. J. Tyler, in a report to the City Council last night. Mr. Tyler '-said the company was asking permission to erect to a height of 82ft. on the north face and 74ft. on the south frontage. The building, which would be the first instalment of a large ultimate scheme, measured approximately 220 ft. by 140 ft. and would contain seven storeys, with an additional storey for office purposes, occupying about half the roof space on the harbour side. The office portion had a trussed ridged roof with a total height of 93ft. above the ground level, the remaining portion having a flat roof. The engineer explained that the property was located within the heavy industrial district in the council's zoning scheme, where thero was a height restriction of 60ft. The company had represented that efficiency of equipment would be impaired and the costs increased if a building of less height was demanded. in view of the fact that the company was already established on a large scale in the locality with buildings having a height in the vicinity of 70ft., and as considerable planning had been done by the company prior to the fixing of the height restriction, Mr. Tyler thought it would not be unreasonable to allow a height of approximately 70ft. to the top of the parapet in this instance, provided that the roof did not project above the level of the parapet and that the outward appearance of the building was to the council's approval. The Town Planning Committee recommended that the application bo granted, provided that the height of any portion of the building did not exceed 80ft.

RELIGIOUS PROCESSION Permission for the holding of a religious procession during; tlie Roman Catholic centennial celebrations in February, 1938, was granted by the City Council last night. A request for the free use of the Domain for a religious servico was also granted.