AIRPORT PURCHASE

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 8

AIRPORT PURCHASE

HAWERA AERO CLUBS WORK. REVIEW AT ANNUAL MEETING. Recognising that it was essential that the district should have a properly equipped airport, and as the result of the breaking down of negotiations with the Hawera Borough Council, the club had accepted the whole burden of the establishment of an airport at Hawera, stated the president, Dr. W. F. Buist, in his report to the annual meeting of the Hawera Aero Club last night. The past year’s operations had been centred around the acquiring of a new aerodrome, proceeded the report. As far back as July, 1934, negotiations with the trustees of the Spratt estate on Waihi Road were commenced by which the club offered to acquire the whole area of 196 acres for the purpose of developing an airport for Hawera. After an extremely rocky passage the matter was consummated by the signing of documents and the passing over of the purchase monies on August 22. The club acquired the Isnd and commenced farming operations from July 15. On Monday the Public Works Department, under the Government scheme for developing aerodromes in the Dominion, started work on the formation of the principal runways. It was anticipated that there was 12 months’ work ahead before the aerodrome could reach the status of a class B ground. The lengthy negotiations over the purchase of the aerodrome did not entirely lie at the club’s door. The club quite rightly considered that local bodies, as represented by the Hawera Borough Council, should be identified with the development of the airport and it was regretted that the negotiations in which the aero club made a request for assistance from the council ultimately fell through. About £4O had been spent by the club in travelling expenses to Wellington, valuation fee and Mr. Gibson’s lecture on its own initiative to bring matters to a head. Other items of non-recurring expenditure were expenses in connection with the visit of .Miss Jean Batten £l7, and the visits of Messrs. McGregor, Walker, Hewitt and Kay £l5 13s. Those items represented situations where the aero club took on a public duty and should not be rightly a charge on the club. He considered personally that the club would have to curtail its expenditure in direction, as it was necessary to cut down expenses, and because he considered that expenses of entertaining distinguished guests should devolve on other people. They had potentially one of the finest aerodromes in New Zealand. The Auckland Aero Club had established its own aerodrome at Mangere, but it was now proposed by the Auckland City, Council and other local bodies to expend £35,000 on Mangere to make it an airport for the Auckland district. The need, for developing their own airport would be perfectly apparent when within the next few months commercial aviation started off with its initial burst of activity and he was firmly of the opinion that in the future aero transportation would form one of the most important methods of communication in the Dominion. He therefore impressed upon members to value the property which they had had the courage to acquire. In the meantime the aero club was making provision for the operation of its own planes for training and otherwise until such time -s the class B or ultimately class A aerodrome was established. The purchase had involved the .payment of a little more than £72 an acre and the club, had assumed the entire responsibility of the finance. They were confident, however, that by careful management in their farming operations of making sufficient revenue to meet obligations, with perhaps a little over each year to maintain flying activities. It was proposed to establish a nineholes and later a full 18-holes golf course as an adjunct to the amenities of the district an,d because they felt that a relief course was necessary for the district. It was proposed that that activity would be developed by a new golf club in association with the aero club. They had had the privilege of entertaining such well known aviators as Miss Jean Batten and Messrs. Hewitt, Kay, Walker and McGregor. Captain McGregor they had been pleased to welcome as the first aviator to raise interest in aviation in the district.

’ The balance-sheet showed a deficit of £66 18s, almost entirely accounted for by items of extraordinary expenditure already referred to. The present financial position was satisfactory, provided . a careful watch was kept over it during the next few years. v

Criticism of the borough council and appreciation of the work of the secretary and president was expressed by Mr. L. O. Hooker. The “humbugging and delay.” of the council, he said, had cost the club £6OO. The chairman and secretary had come through an onerous year with notable success.

The secretary (Mr. W. G. Walkley) reported that there was £l6lO cash in hand, and that the club could face three more years of depression, if need be, without fear. Officers elected were: Patron, Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P.; president, Dr. W. F. Buist; vice-presidents, Mrs. C. Macßae and Mr. T- M. Ellis; club captain, Mr. Brian Haybittle; vice-captain, Mr. A. N. Stroud; committee, > Messrs. W. A. Spragg,- R. Syme, W. G. Strange, B. Davies, H. R. Kemp, W. W. Davy, L. O. Hooker, J. Gibson, M. J. Burns; hon. auditor, Mr. G. H. Buckeridge; hon. solicitor, Mr. F. W. Horner. Mr. W. O. Williams was appointed to supervise the farming operations. It was decided to hold a competition for a suitable name for the new aerodrome.

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., will arrive at Auckland from England by the Mataroa next Thursday and is expected at Hawera the following day. The first of a series of euchre parties and dances will be held at the .Aotea Roa pa, Okaiawa, to-morrow. Particulars are advertised. ' Sympathy was expressed by the Hawera Scottish Society on Wednesday night with Mrs. F. Lacey and Miss Margaret Smith in the death of their brother-in-law, Mr. R. Webster, Auckland, and with the relatives of the late Hon. J. Craigie, Timaru, first Dominion president of the Bums Federation. MJSS ROSSLYN AT MANAIA. RETURN PERFORMANCE GIVEN, Miss Nita Rosslyn, “tire Girl in Red,”, the cyclist who is on a. world tour, made her reappearance in the Manaia town hall on Tuesday. Mr. L. C. Harrison, chairman of tire Manaia Town Board, presided over a fair attendance. Miss Rosslyn was accorded a civic reception at Manaia a short time ago but, owing to the success of her entertainment and to request to return she decided to revisit the town. Miss Rosslyn gave an interesting talk of her experiences and adventures during her five years of cycling. Miss Rosslyn sang numerous songs, playing her own accompaniments. She expressed appreciation of tire hospitality extended to her during her visit to Manaia and throughout Taranaki.