COUNTY ADAMANT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 74, 19 May 1944, Page 5

COUNTY ADAMANT

NO INTEREST IN AERODROME SHOULD BE NATIONAL MATTER Following the receipt of the Borough Council's letter asking it to reconsider its previous decision not to participate in the formation of an Airport Board' owing to its heavy floodt damage commitments the Whakatane County Council last Friday reiterated its decision and 1 claimedl that the construction of aerodromes was a national 1 matter and 1 should not be shouldered by the ratepayers. The Borough Council pointed out that there was no proposal for imJ mediate expenditure on an aerodrome project, and that it would welcome a confei*ence to take, only preliminary steps to facilitate positive action at some future date. Cr McGougan said that his candid opinion was that the ratepayers did not wish to he involved"in any fresh heavy expenditure at this time. The new hospital loan had now been sanctioned and they had' that to think about first. Cr Butler: We would be involved financially eventually if we went on wit-li it. The chairman: We would share the responsibility. There would be no point in. forming a board unless we were willing to. do so. Cr McCracken said that though the aerodrome might be an asset, it was not right to allow the whole expense of its construction to fall upon the, ratepayers. It. was a public utility and not a private one. He favoured deferring the matter till after the w r ar. Cr McCready: We had to. fight against the hospital loan, and now our fates sealetl. Cr McCracken: We're not done yet. Cr McCready: I hope you're right but you're a super optimist if you think you can save it once its been passed and approved. If the Government is so proud of its facilities, let it foot the bill for the. aerodrome;. The council decided that it considered the construction of aerodromes a national responsibility and that it was not prepared to co-op-erate in the formation of. an Airport Board.