AERODROME SITE
AGITATION FOR SANDHILLS NATIVE OWNERSHIP QUERY Letters to the Borough Council last Monday evening suggesting the projected site of the proposed aerodrome for Whakatane were fully discussed. The popular choice, which also seems to have the backing of the Department appears l to be that known as the ‘sandhills’ site, which adjoins the Golf Course at Piripai. The main problem in this connection which has still to be overcome is whether the land is Crown or Native owned.
A communication from the Whakatane Aero Club sought the council’s • support for the sandhill site, while a letter from Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., minuted on from the Minister of Defence indicated that the site was considered suitable but that whether or not it would be an economic proposition would depend on the outcome of an engineering survey, for which purpose engineering officers could not be spared at the present time. Cr Morpeth: The answers we receive have been evasive all the time. All we are asking is that the land shall be set aside for an aerodrome. T|iere should not be anything to stop that!
The Mayor: Personally I can’t see how we can get over it, if it as I understand Native land under lease.
Cr Canning saM that - year after year the council had been battling for recognition in the aviation world. An aerodrome was absolutely vital to the town, and yet it seemed impossible to be able to get anywhere.
The Town Clerk read a copy of a letter forwarded pn to the Minister in which information was sought as to the nature of the land in question and seeking a ruling as to whether it was native or not. No reply, he said had yet been received. “I’m glad that has been done,” said Cr Creeke. “There has been some feeling on this matter, for the land is Native owned, and on it there as a pa and meeting house. It would be against the avowed policy of the Government to make over any Maori lands for public purposes. I think we should await the Minister’s reply before doing anything further.”
The council' agreed to follow thi& suggestion and to await the information.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BPB19470910.2.18
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 78, 10 September 1947, Page 5
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367AERODROME SITE Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 78, 10 September 1947, Page 5
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