RONGOTAI AIRPORT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 8

RONGOTAI AIRPORT

MAKING IT SUITABLE

MANY FACTORS^ TO CONSIDER

That Bongotai was by virtue of its position suited to bo the airport of Wellington, and that the City Council should endeavour■ to fix Eongotai as the permanent airport, rather than shift it to the Hutt Valley, was the opinion expressed by Councillor J. Bums at the annual supper of the Burns Club last night. The whole position, including that of charges, he said, was . being gone- into, very, closely., Expert opinion would be consulted, and if Eongotai was found to ■be suitable the City Council would not hesitate in spending money on its improvement. Asked today whether ho ' would amplify the remarks made last night, Councillor Burns said that while the position was that the matter had not yet been thoroughly v considered by the reserves committee, and would have to be dealt with finally by the ;City Council, ho saw no reason for not pointing out some of the more important features of tho situation that would have to bo discussed. The first and most important thing to decide'was whether Eongotai was suited to become the permanent airport of the city. If not, it was quite useless to go any further into tho matter. Mr. T. S. Withers, who was interested in the formation of a commercial aviation company, ; had ■ met the reserves committee informally, and had suggested that the airport be placed;, at I the company's disposal for a minimum charge during the initial stages. Asked if the use of the airport for twelve months would give a'sufficient test of all weathers ■ and conditions to enable those interested to decide if it was suitable as .the permanent Wellington airport, Mr"., Withers replied that twelve months' trial would bo ample to settle the matter. .' ' WHEN EXPERTS DIFFER. "When experts differ, as;they have differed on this question," said Councillor Burns, "tho City Council should not act without the /fullest investigation, after consultation with experts. We know that some experts are in favour of Eongotai, but on the other hand we cannot be blind. to the fact that it has been suggested that the airport would \be better placed: in' the Hutt Valley. It seems to me that the City Council must ultimately be guided by the decision reached by the experts in conference with those ■ who, if Eongotai becomes the commercial airport, will use it."- ■■'•. It was stated in certain quarters that an extension of the landing space was essential, said Councillor Burns, but when this came to be ."* considered it would bo seen . that it would be a serious matter for those not interested purely in aviation. The Suggested extension was apparently to be obtained by a large reclamation scheme in the angle of Lyall Bay.near Moa Point, but if this eventuated,- what was to- become of the beach and tho roadway which now formed part of the Marine Drive to Seatoun, and which also gave access to. a considerable number oi dwellings and properties along that part of the seafront? Moreover, that part of the beach <was the sunniest, most gradually shelving, and sheltered part of it, and the loss of its use would be keenly felt by residents. The '\ reclamation would of necessity.be costly. Was an extension so necessary? asked Councillor BurnSi It had been stated quite freely that the additional area put into use on the first-visit of Sir Charles Kingsford. Smith was very rarely used. The high winds were very frequently mentioned, but it was worthy of note that it had recently been published that though/: the weather in England had been-.so rough that the ordinary cross-Channel "services were closed,' the big aeroplanes with mails were plying as usual. As far as a move to the Hutt Valley was concerned, he did not think that much difference in the wind force would be felt until Trentham was reached; at Gear Island, from what he had noticed, the winds were much as they were at Eongotai. . /