AUCKLAND AIRPORT.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19596, 7 June 1935, Page 4

AUCKLAND AIRPORT.

DEVELOPING MANGERE.

PROPOSALS BEFORE COUNCIL

AUCKLAND, Friday. Proposals for the Improvement and development of the Auckland Aero Club’s aerodrome at Mangere to make It suitable for the accommodation of commercial aeroplanes, in view of the Introduction of air trunk services between the principal cities of New Zealand and the possibility of the extenson of the Imperial air route to New Zealand, were submitted to the City Council last night. The proposals involve an expenditure of £34,000 to extend the present runways, making ■them suitable for Ihc landing and taking off of fully loaded aeroplanes of the largest types.

The Unemployment Board is prepared to subsidise the labour required up to a stated limit, the Public Works 'Department will provide supervision free of cost and the City Council and other lqoal bodies in the district aru to bo asked to co-operate. The matter was brought before the council by Mr W. Slaughter, officer in charge of unemployment In tho Auckland district, who, in a letter, said that provided financial arrangements could ho completed the Public Works Department would make every effort to have the first section of tho ground available to coincide with the inauguration of the Dominion service In October. In supplying details of the proposal, Mr Slaughter said the area had been surveyed and an estimate prepared by the Public Works Department showed that labour would cost £31.300 and materials and overhead £2700, making a total of £34,000. If arrangements were made by which the men were employed on full-time on contract, based on the rale of 10s Gd a day, which was tho system successfully operating at the Government air base at Hobsonville, the Unemployment Board would contribute 50 per cent of the labour cost lo a maximum amount of 35s a married man a week. Tho letter was referred to the Finance Committee for a report.