SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 20

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Considerable interest was taken locally in a special meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council, held on Thursday night, to consider a petition praying that the previous resolution of the council to expend up to £3OO in the formation of an airport, or landing ground, on the railway reserve at the south side of the railway line, be rescinded. The Mayor (Mr D. T. Fleming) and all the councillors, with the exception of Cr Bower, were present. The Mayor, read the petition, which, he said, was signed by 121 ratepayers of the borough, and it was formally received. The town clerk read a lengthy legal opinion from the borough solicitor to the effect that a local authority might contribute from revenue to an aviation authority, and the latest legislation would give the council power to establish an aerodrome, but if the amount exceeded that allowed out of unauthorised expenditure application would require to be made to the Governor-General-in-Couucil for approval before expending money on the proposed ground, and apprpval would have to be gazetted. It was stated that some of those who had signed the petition now said they would like to withdraw, and that they were not against the council’s proposal. A motion that the necessary steps to obtain Government approval be taken was then earned, and the meeting closed