CITY AIRPORT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23130, 31 August 1938, Page 16

CITY AIRPORT

FUNDS FOR SURVEY

LOCAL BODIES' POSITION

FURTHER CONFERENCE TO-DAY

Proposals for the establishment of a metropolitan airport for the Auckland isthmus will be further discussed at a conference of representatives of the City Council and other metropolitan local bodies, to be held in the low 11 Hall council chamber late this afternoon. This conference follows a siinilai gathering held toward the end of July, when a number of representatives stated that their local bodies were in some doubt as to the responsibilities involved in being associated with the movement.

At an earlier meeting in May a site in the upper reaches of the Manukau Harbour, requiring a certain amount of reclamation, was approved, subject to some further survey investigations and the preparation of plans. This preliminary work was estimated to cost £2OOO, of which the Government undertook to provide £IOOO. In the assessments for the raising of the remainder tho City Council was to contribute £SOO, leaving the rest of the local bodies in the area to make up the remaining £SOO betweeu them. At the July meeting some of the delegates stated that there was an opinion among them that assumption of liability for a portion of the sum required would automatically commit them to contributing to tho scheme generally. Tentative estimates placed the cost of reclamation and the development of the landing field at £164,000. It was explained at that meeting by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, that contribution toward the preliminary expenses would certainly not bind the local bodies to finding a share of any further costs that might bo entailed in the construction of tho airport. That would be a matter for future consideration. The conference was then adjourned to enable the dissenting local bodies to again consider tho request that they should contribute to the costs of the survey and' investigation and preparation of plans.