AIRPORT FOR AUCKLAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1038, 31 July 1930, Page 12

AIRPORT FOR AUCKLAND

Cost Estimated at £50,000 THREE SITES SUGGESTED IT is desirable in the interests of commerce and the development of the City and province that a first-class airport be established. This resolution was passed unanimously last evening at a meeting convened by tbe City Council to consider proposals regarding the establishment of an airport at the most suitable point to serve Auckland.

It is estimated that the minimum sum required for such a purpose, and to make the airport available for landing in all weathers, would be £50,000. The interest on this sura at 7 per cent, would be £3,500 a year, some of which would be recoverable from rent, grazing and landing fees. The Auckland City Council would bear the heaviest liability Its annual levy would be £1,853. Other estimated levies, calculated on capital values, would be:— Mt. Albert £203, Newmarket £6O, Onehunga £ll3, One Tree Hill £124, Devonjiort £125, Waitemata County £162, Manukau County £lB6, Takapuna £96 and the others accordingly. The Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, presided and representatives were present from the following local’bodies: Takapuna, Devonport, Newmarket, Mount Eden, Mount Albert, Onehunga, Otahuhu, One Tree Hill, Manukau, Waitemata, Ellerslie, Papatoetoe, Northcote, the Auckland and Waitemata Power Boards, Harbour Board. Transport Board and Drainage Board. Mr. J. Dempsey, chairman of the Works Committee of the Auckland City Council, which has had charge of the inquiries and investigations, was ilso present. DATA AVAILABLE An enormous amount of preparatory work has been done by the City Council and this was presented to the meeting in concise form. the resolution had been passed last evening, the Mayor stated that another meeting to discuss the formation of an airport would be held on December 17. Many areas have been inspected in and around the City. Full details of each site have been investigated thoroughly and the final choice is expected to be made from three sites selected by Mr. James Tyler, City Engineer. for the Works Committee. These are: 118 acres at the east end of Point England Road, Tamaki, valued at £44,600. It is 7S miles from the General Post Office via the Waterfront Road and nine miles via the Remuera Road. The trea will allow a clear run of 1,000 yards and an additional area of 56 teres adjoining can be acquired if re- (, uired at a later date. The land is bounded on the east by the Tamaki River and is suitable for the operation of sea-planes. 163 acres at the junction of Kirkbride and Westney Roads, Maugere, valued at £22,560. It would provide runways of 800 yards in every direction. There is another area of 55 acres adjoining which could be acquired. and this would give a main runway of 1,000 yards. It is bounded on the north by an arm of the Manukau Harbour. 213 acres of the Massey Park Estate at the junction of Buckland and Henwood Roads, Mangere, valued at £23,000. It is 111 miles from the General Post Office and would givo a runway of 800 yards. NO PAROCHIAL SPIRIT The Mayor stated that the question of finding an area suitable for an airport for the City had occupied the attentions of the City Council for some time past, and a great deal of work had been done in this direction by the Works Committee. That information was now before the meeting. Mr. Dempsey, in explaining the project, stated that the City Council was not rushing into the matter without considering it from every point of view. Mr. Dempsey pointed out that the longer a site was allowed to lapse the more costly it would become. “It Is surprising in Auckland today how difficult it is to find a piece of land half a mile square and level or such a piece which could be levelled,” he said. Experts in other parts of the world considered that an air port should be from 10 to 12 miles from the centre of the city it served. In explaining the three sites which had been selected as the best, he said that areas of land in and around the City which were of no commercial value had been investigated, but they were of no use. The Works Committee had not made any special recommendations. The most desirable site must be discovered before any conclusions were reached. BOARD OF CONTROL Mr. Dempsey said that he failed to see how private enterprise could provide the most suitable airport for a city. In Germany, where great advances in aviation had been made, private companies had had to fall back on State aid. He suggested some sort of board, similar in constitution to the Harbour Board, to control the air port when it became established. Mr. S. W. House, Manukau County Council, seconded the motion that the establishment of an airport was desirable. Mr. W. Cassels Browne (De vonport) thought that, because of the splendid manner in which it carried out its business, the Harbour Board was really the body which should tackle the problem of an airport. In his opinion Shoal Bay was the most suitable site. This was only three miles distant from the City and if the area were not taken as an airport it would be occupied as a site for the harbour bridge. A light beacon could be established on the top of Rangitoto, which was an ideal place for one. The Mayor explained that the Shoal Bay site had been investigated, but it was not suitable, as it would cost over £I,OOO an acre to fill in. Mr. S. Irwin Crookes, in comparing the development of transport by air in other countries, said that this district would be very shortsighted if it did not support the establishment of an airport. Mr. S. Donaldson, Mayor of Newmarket, explained that he could not support any motion which would commit his council to any financial obligation. His advice was that a board should be set up first and then decisions regarding the site and the amount to be paid for it could be made afterward. He moved an amendment to this

effect. It was supported by Mr. Bryce Hart (Takapuna), but was later withdrawn, as the Mayor explained that no decisions would be reached until the next meeting. Mr. G. Lawrence Taylor (Mount Eden) said that although the responsibility of providing the airport fell on the municipal authorities he did not think they should be called on to foot the whole bill. He asked that all the local bodies concerned should be given an opportunity to discuss fully all the information available before any decisions were reached. The Mayor explained that the object of the meeting was to find out whether the establishment of an airport was desired. After that the reports available could be fully discussed by the local bodies concerned. Mr. J. A. C. Allum, chairman of the Transport Board, congratulated the City Council on the immense amount of information which had been gathered and for the amount of trouble which had been taken in compiling the reports. A CHARGE ON THE CITY Congratulations on the amount of information available also came from Mr. M. H. Wynyard, chairman of the Harbour Board. He wished to know, however, if it were possible to find out the expenses involved in establishing air ports in other countries and what revenue had been derived from those ports. As far as seaplanes were concerned the Harbour Board would accept its responsibility in that respect. In answer to Mr. F. T. Eyre (Devonport), the Mayor said that the air port would not pay its way for a number of years, but it was anticipated that in time the upkeep would be reduced by revenue. It would be a charge on the City for some years to come. Mr. S. Rickards (Manukau County Council) said that he would do all in his power to persuade his council to further the scheme.