WHAT OF AVIATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 11, 15 May 1939, Page 4

WHAT OF AVIATION

PROGRESSIVE towns throughout the Dominion, have marked their growth and signalised their importance by constructing in the vicinity of their centre, an Aerodrome or landing field, which is linked up with the countrywide aviation chain, now in the process of formation. The question of Whakatane's inclusion is a very real and pressing one if the town is to keep abreast with the times and make provision for the future. Transport by air is still in its infancy and. in this country, which is considered backward by comparison, the possibilities are considered so great that it has been said, that all towns not availing themselves of of the present opportunities, will be excluded from the airlines which are now being inaugurated, and therefore will not be in a position to advance on a competitional basis with those centres enjoying the title of airport or base. Whakatane with a growing population, expanding trade and as a coming civic centre, has a need to examine the possibilities of establishing an aerodrome of its own. The time is now ripe for concerted action and town and district should rally behind the movement which is seeking to bring about the creation of an a,erodrome which will serve Whakatane's interests and place it definitely on the aviation map. The Government has undertaken where possible to supply labour for the levelling out of aerodromes providing the local bodies concerned find the cost of the land. For some obscure reason the proposal for Whakatane has been shelved and the matter is receiving only tentative attention by council and department. Whakatane residents must not allow the question to die or to be lost sight of. An Aerodrome means progress, in fact it means more than that for it is a guarantee of future participation in the revolutionary lines of air transport and passenger services. Whakatane. must become an airport! It is vital to its position as the main outlet to the Rangitaiki plains, while from a strategetic point of view its situation is unique. With the thousands of acres of flat farming land n the vicinity, surely a few hundred can be spared' for an investment that will return so much.