RONGOTAI AS AIRPORT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19373, 10 July 1937, Page 2

RONGOTAI AS AIRPORT

INQUIRY INTENDED

COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS

(per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day

The future of the Rongotai aerodrome as a terminal for overseas and internal air services is to be investigated by a special committee appointed by the Government. In making this announcement last evening, the Minister of Aviation, the Hon. F. Jones, referred to the rejection by the Wellington ratepayers of the recent loan proposals for developmental work at Rongotai. He said it was well known that the choice of the area as an aerodrome site in close proximity to Wellington had been been justified by experience. The Minister emphasised the importance of the capital city of the Dominion being equipped with adequate airport facilities, sufficient to meet the needs of both internal and overseas air traffic, not only in the immediate future, but also during the next 20 years.

The Government is arranging for the appointment of the following special committee of investigation:— Mr. J. Wood, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department (chairman); Wing-Commander T. M. Wilkes, Controller of Civil Aviation; Wing-Com-mander the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, Chief of the Royal New Zealand Air Stall'; Mr. E. A. Gibson, engineer of the aerodrome services of the Public Works Department; Commander B. A. Blythe, chief pilot of Union Airways; Commander B. Bolt, chief pilot of Cook Strait Airways; Mr. E. R. McKillop, acting city engineer, Wellington City Council.