REVERSAL OF FORM

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 86, Issue 7, 30 June 1944, Page 4

REVERSAL OF FORM

WHEN the Whakatane County Council first took the initiative by actively sponsoring the establishment of an aerodrome in the district the move was greeted by every pro-gressively-minded citizen and resident with the approbation it deserved. For six months while the new proposal veered between conference and counter-conference those who had an eye to the future of the Eastern Bay, and the tremendous part which aviation would play, hoped that at long last something tangible would result and that our district would not be left high and dry as happened upon another bitter occasion. The visit of the Aviation authorities at the joint request of County and Borough, showed this district favourably situated to be included as a point in the future airlines of the Dominion —though the aciddrop, as far as the County was concerned, lay in the fact that the Te Teko site was turned down. The next move came from the Aviation authorities who suggested the formation of an Airport Board, composed of delegates from all interested bodies, and which would be dedicated to the fostering and ultimate establishment of a firstclass aerodrome and terminal. The whole fabric of a new and tangible scheme appeared to be about to consolidate, until under the shallow pretext of 'flood damage' the County Council, the primary movers in the whole project suddenly decided that it was a State responsibility, and therefore turned their backs upon the whole scheme. A somewhat singular attitude for the promoting body to take, and as a result, the Borough Council hitherto the sleeping partners in the idea are left to 'carry the baby.' To the City Father's eternal credit it has been decided to not give up so easily, but to use the utmost endeavour to establish an aerodrome in the interests of the people of the district, the community as a progressive and enterprising public, and the town as a central point offering communication and easy access to an ever-expanding back country. Why a body like the County Council with over £25,000 to its credit shrinks from such a public utility, which must in a large measure be assisted by Government funds and subsidies, is hard to understand, and we feel that its somersault in this connection cannot have the full backing of its ratepayers who are recognised as some of the most progressive farmers in the Dominion.