PLAN ACCEPTED

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20853, 11 July 1939, Page 8

PLAN ACCEPTED

CHANGED ATTITUDE MODIFICATIONS APPROVED COUNTY WILL SHARE DEFICIT Reversing its attitude of opposition to county councils being asked to contribute towards the formation of a modern aerodrome at Rukuhla, the Waikato County Council accepted the amended proposals of the Hamilton Borough Council as worthy of the county’s support. Its representatives at the conference of local bodies in Hamilton on July 18 will support the new scheme. The county council agreed to contribute towards any annual deficit in the aerodrome accounts on a proportionate basis, as suggested by the borough council, provided that the annual liability of the Waikato County did not exceed £IOO. As expressed at the meeting to-day by Mr It. o. Young, the previous attitude of the council had been that, in view of the altitude of the ratepayers in the rural areas, it would have been useless to continue with the scheme. Mr Young said the Raglan County Council had already expressed very plainly its opposition. Mr U. M. Walt said that the general feeling of the farmers seemed to have been one of opposition. Viewed in Different Light The new proposals of the Hamilton Borough Council were viewed in a different light, however. "They give a much different expression from the one we have in the past been labouring under, remarked Mr P. E. Dingle. "Apparently we are not expected to bear any capital charges at all.” When Mr Young said the revenue from the aerodrome should be sufficient to guard against any annual cost, which the counties were asked to secure, the chairman, Mr J. A. Sampson said he agreed it was expected that such would be the case. "Previously,” said Mr Dingle, “wo were under the impression that we had to pledge our lands as security in the raising of a loan to meet the expense of constructing an aerodrome. These proposals arc entirely new, however, and apparently we have to guarantee to meet a proportion of the annual loss only, and the Hamilton Borough Council will pledge its lands as security for the loan. “Within a few years, as aii traffic increases,” added Mr Dingle, “there should not be any deficit at all. There must be a cost over the first two years at least.” Mr Dingle said the revenue expected from farming operations while the aerodrome was being prepared could, for the purposes of considering the proposals, be disregarded, because it was not certain whether any farming revenue would he obtained. As the aerial traffic increased fanning operations on Hie aerodrome would be eliminated entirely, and at the same time the revenue would become increasingly larger. Burden Not Heavy In the proportionate burden of meeting any annual loss as suggested, added Mr Dingle, it appeared that the Waikato County would have to meet about 20 per cent of the dificit. lie did not consider that was high in view of the fact that the estimated ICS'S for the first year was only £l2O. If revenue from farming operations at the aerodrome were disregarded, the liability of the county council was not likely to be more than £IOO at the most. “I think,” continued Mr Dingle, “that this is a scheme that warrants our assistance. If we lag, the district will go back. This sort of thing may not be within our scope, but we should give our support to the proposals because flying has come to stay, and anyone of our ratepayers or any member of the council may at any time want quick transport and would then welcome an air service. Even taking the worst view it is not going to cost the local authorities very much, and there is every indication that an aerodrome will be a financial success.” “I do not think there can he any serious objection to these proposals,” said Mr Young, in moving the resolution, which was adopted unanimously. "I would like to support this although I offered opposition to previous proposals.” Mr Young remarked that the county representatives on the body controlling the airport would have to see that, the airport charges were sufficiently high to guard against a loss after the construction of the aerodrome had been completed.