RUKUHIA AIR PORT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 71, Issue 6144, 3 October 1945, Page 4

RUKUHIA AIR PORT

AFTER-WAR USE IMPORTANCE TO WAIKATO STRESSED The importance to WJaikato of the use of Rukuhia air port for passenger traffic was emphasised by members of the Council of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce at a meeting on Monday night. Members agreed that every effort should be made to secure an adequate service. The secretary told the meeting that the question was being attended to by the publicity committee. Mrs H. Ross, member for Hamilton, had interviewed the Minister of Defence, but had not received a satisfactory reply. Later Mrs Ross asked a question in the House, and that also had not yet been answered. The secretary continued that Union Airways Limited had stated that it was keeping Hamilton in mind for a stopping place on the southern route, but held the opinion that it would be used more in the nature of a feeder service.. The Minister of Defence had expressed the opinion that Rukuhia would be unsuitable account of the prevalence of fogs. A member commented that the air port had proved satisfactory for Air Force needs during the war, and there was no reason why it should not be equally suitable for civil aviation. Fog should not play a ,big part. “ Air travel is the coming method of transport,” said Mr A. M. Bisley. “ We should see that we get a service from Rukuhia. It would serve a wide area.” Mr A. O. Svenson considered that Hamilton could furnish a sufficient number of travellers to inaugurate a service to Wellington immediately. There was no reason why Hamilton should be left out.

The need for other organisations to lend their support to the claims was emphasised by the chairman, Mr J. D. Edgecombe.

On the motion of Mr Bisley the meeting decided to again approach Mrs Ros on the matter and seek the support of all borough councils, county councils, and other chambers of commerce in the South Auckland district, jas w;ell as the Retailers’ Association and the Farmers’ Union.