“A LUXURY”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20025, 25 August 1939, Page 4

“A LUXURY”

WAIROA’S AERODROME

A. AND P. SOCIETY’S VIEWS RAISING- OF £IO,OOO LOAN (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. “I think it is a luxury that Wairoa can well do without,” stated Mr. T. M. Connell at a committee meeting oi the Wairoa County Agricultural and Pastoral Society yesterday when referring to the finance committee * recommendation that the society support the Wairoa Harbour Board in its proposal to apply for the necessary legislation to enable it, without taking a poll ot' ratepayers, to raise a loan not exceeding £IO,OOO to purchase land for the establishment of an aerodrome in Wairoa.

Mr. Connell pointed out that the population of Wairoa including the borough and county, was about 9000, and, in his opinion, not more than 2 per cent would take advantage of travelling by air. The 2 per cent represented about 90 people and the remainder had to pay for that luxury I njovert bv the minority.

He added that rates could do one of three things They could go up day where they were, or go down. Thov would all like to see the rates reduced. He could foresee that in the future the poorer class land in the back country would not be producing anything with the result that the rates on the better class land would be increased.

“Rates Becoming a Rental”

"In some cases the rates are becoming a rental,” added Mr. Connell. “I know mine are.”

With these difficult times, he stated, it should be the aim of every local body to reduce rates. Mr. Connell asked had they been guaranteed that when an aerodrome was established in Wairoa that Union Airways' planes would land there? The president, Mr. A. T. Carroll, stated that to his way of thinking the spirit behind it. all was the linking up of Wairoa with the other centres.

Mr. T. W. G. Tombleson said that it was proposed that the interest and sinking fund should be paid out of revenue and if this could be done it did seem that the burden on the ratepayers could be reduced by the amount used to pay the interest and sinking fund. He agreed that rates could do one of three things. One was very unpalatable and anothei was highly desirous.

It was pointed out by Mr. H. _ M. Bayly that revenue would be derived from ground rental for the grazing of stock and also ground fees. If Union Airways wanted to use the ground for landing then they would have to pay for the use of the ground.

The finance committee's recommendation that the society' support the Harbour Board’s proposal was carried.