PURCHASE OF SITE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 20 April 1939, Page 11

PURCHASE OF SITE

WAIKATO AIRPORT LOCAL BODIES’ SHARE ALLOCATIONS TO BE CONSIDERED As a preliminary step in providing a first-class airport in the Waikato a meeting of local bodies was held in Hamilton yesterday to consider' the purchase of the existing area at Rukuhia and such additional land as would be necessary to extend and improve the site to make it capable of accommodating any type of commercial or military aircraft. It was suggested that the total amount which the local bodies would be asked to And would be limited to £20,000 and that this be allocated on a population and utility basis. The Mayor of Hamilton, Mr H. b. Caro, presided, and Mr C. J. Parsons, district engineer of the Public Works Department, was also present. Several members of local bodies stated that they had not the authority to agree to a definite scheme in which the local bodies would combine to purchase the necessary amount of land, and it was later decided that a committee, consisting of the chairmen of the Raglan and Waipa counties, the mayors of Cambridge, Huntly, Morrinsville and Hamilton, the Te Awamutu town clerk and the Waikato county clerk, bring down recommendations covering the allocations of the cost of securing the airport site at Rukuhia. Representing at the meeting were the Hamilton, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Cambridge and Morrinsville Borough Councils and the Waikato and Raglan County Councils. It was also decided to approach the Government for the loan of the services of their land purchase officer to value the area required. Generous Offer Referring to the cost of purchasing the property, Mr Caro said Mr C. B. Smith had generously agreed to sell the land at present used at Rukuhia for the price at which he had purchased it during the depression. "It is reasonable to assume,” added Mr Caro, "that fees from training of pupils, landing lees and farming operations will go a long way towards { covering the loan costs connected ’ with the purchase of the site.” It was imperative, both in view of the expansion of commercial aviation and from the defence aspect to have an aerodtoine in the Waikato. "All we need now is the will and determination to get what we want,” continued Mr Caro. Unless the legislation necessary for the formation of a controlling authority in the Waikato was finalised at the coming session of Parliament the whole matter might be delayed another 1$ months. As it was things had practically "bung fire” since last July. With at least half of the Raglan County situated more centrally to Auckland as regards airport facilities and the other half too far removed from ’Rukuhia, an aerodrome there would not be of much benefit to the Raglan ratepayers, said Mr H. Johnstone Raglan County Council). The allocation which the county was being asked to bear would mean a further increase on already heavy rates and ratepayers would rather see the money spent on roads than on an aerodrome. He appreciated the value of the aerodrome from a defence standpoint but he considered defence was a national problem and not one with which file local bodies had to concern themselves. Mr H. J. Sampson, chairman of the Waikato County Council, said the Waikato County’s position was analogous with that of Raglan. “Would Pay Its Way” “We cannot get away from the fact that the Government has laid down that it will not purchase grounds for aerodromes,” said Mr W. L. Waddel, town clerk of the Hamilton Borough. "The Government has spent considerably greater sums on construction work than has been provided by local bodies in purchase costs.” Mr Waddel pointed out that consideration would have to be given to the allocation of profits as well as costs as there was every prospect that the aerodrome would pay its way. In his opinion the financial responsibility to the local bodies should not | cause concern. When the ground was put in first class order the passenger lines would make Hamilton a port of call. The fact that the proposed air board to control Rukuhia would be responsible for the purchase and maintenance of tho land only, was mentioned by Mr T. G. Reynolds (Hamilton Borough Council). Machines and other equipment would be provided by the Aero Club or some other properly constituted body. When Mr Johnstone contended that £20,000 was too much to ask the local bodies for, Mr Waddel stated that it was only proposed to spend up to that amount, not necessarily the whole of it. Estimates of the cost of acquiring the necessary land ranged from £16.000 to £20,000. \ Referring to the defence aspect Mr Caro suggested that there bad t-cen too much "dilly-dallying” in the pa«t. There was a clear duly in this matter. Mr Johnstone: Yes. Nationally. Mr Caro: No. Individually.