NEEDED IN WAIROA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20049, 22 September 1939, Page 5

NEEDED IN WAIROA

PROPOSED AERODROME SUPPORT OF CHAMBER FARMERS WILL BENEFIT | (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. A statement to the effect that if Wairoa did not have an aerodrome it would not be on the map, was made bv Mr. S. M. Ashburn, the retiring president, at the annual meeting ol (he Wairoa Chamber of Commence when a decision was reached that the Wairoa Harbour Board be thanked for its courtesy in forwarding the plans of the proposed aerodrome lor inspection .by the members of the chamber and that it be assured of the hearty support of the chamber in us proposition. Reporting on the construction ol an aerodrome in Wairoa, the president, Mr. R. Dryden, stated that the controlling body, the Wairoa Harboui Board, had the matter well m handThe preliminary work had been done md it was now only a question ol ~oing ahead with the work. There was no doubt, in bis opinion,_ that an aerodrome was needed in Wairoa. Referring to the raising of the loan required lor the purchase of the site without first taking a poll of ratepayers, Mr. H. L. Harker stated that (he legislation had been provided loi the purpose of saving money. Ine amount' set down for the loan was £IO,OOO, but he did not think it would cost even half that amount. _ Mr. Harker expressed the view that the farming community were big users of air transport, and mentioned that considerable revenue would be derived from the rental of the 150 acres of land for grazing purposes. A statement that should the aerodrome proposal fall through the Hur* hour Board would have an improved area in its possession, was made by Mr. J. J. Millar. If the board paid, say, £SOOO for the site, the improvements done to the land by the Public Works Department in. the way ol drainage and levelling would increase the value considerably.