WELLINGTON MAY STAGE DEMONSTRATION

Chronicle (Levin), 2 September 1947, Page 6

WELLINGTON MAY STAGE DEMONSTRATION

WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. The GoVernment iu to be giveu three weeks to make up its mind as to whether Rongotai airport is to be developed or disoarded in favour of Paraparaumu. If it has not done so then a monstor deputation will demand that Rongotai be retained as the' airport for the city. This was decided by the Wellington City Council at its ordinary meeting today. The Mayor, Mr. W. Appleton, after reporting on a recent conferenee with the Government, said the scheme put forward by the city engineer, Air. K. E. Luke, would prove cheaper in the long run. It provided for a new ideal site for Rongotai College vvhich, it had already been agreed, must eventually be sliifted. No move could be made.till the college was shifted. The development of Evans'Bay as a seaplane base must also be gone uito. They would give the Government three weeks in which lo make a definite statement regarding its policy concerning Rongotai airport and if it did not do so a monster deputation including representatives of the Wellington City Council, the Mayors of Blenheim and Christchurch, Chamber of Commerce and other interested bodies, should be organised to demand that Rongotai be retained as an airport not only for the city of Wellington but also for the Dominion as a whole. The future of Wellington, lie said, was tied up with the air. Wellington was going to be let't if it did not possess an adequate- airport. The Mayor 's proposal to convene a monster deputation was unanimously approved.