NEW AERODROME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23149, 22 September 1938, Page 16

NEW AERODROME

PLEA FOR PROVISION

TE AROHA CLUB'S WORK DEPUTATION TO COUNCIL [by telegraph—own correspondent] TE AROHA. Wednesday A deputation from the To Arolia Aero Club waited oil the Pinko County Council at its monthly meeting to ask that the council take the initiative in the establishment of a permanent aerodrome and to interest neighbouring local bodies in the project. The president of the club, Mr. L. C. Mackie, said that for the past two years tlio club had tried to obtain a landing field and had been advised by the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. 11. Semple, to amalgamate the interests of the towns in the upper Thames Valley and form a federated club. The Minister had promised that the Government would give what assistance was required for the purpose of levelling and draining the site. The club had worked on this scheme and at a conference representatives of the Morrinsville and Mataniata boroughs and the Piako and Mataniata counties had all signified their interest and support. The club was now trying to find a suitable site for the aerodrome at Ngarua, which was cqni-distant from To Aroha, Morrinsvillc and Matamata, added Mr. Mackie. The estimated cost of the aerodrome was £4OOO.

Mr. Mackie added that apart from its importance as a landing field for commercial machines an endeavour should be made to obtain the area for the purpose of training the young men of the district to heroine pilots.

The council decided to write to the Government to ascertain its attitude toward the establishment of an aerodrome in the district.