BEACONS AERODROME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20057, 2 October 1939, Page 2

BEACONS AERODROME

NAPIER’S POSITION COUNTY HELP SOUGHT As the outcome of further discussion at a meeting of the Napier Borough Council on the question of acquiring the Beacons aerodrome at Westshore and developing an airport without assistance from the Government, the Mayor of Napier, Mr. Hercoclc, and Cr. P. F. Higgins were delegated to wait on the Hawke’s Bay County Council to ascertain what measure of support that body could offer. A letter was received from the M.P. for Napier, the Hon. W. E. Barnard, urging the council to take the opportunity now offering of securing Beacons aerodrome and giving particulars of assistance granted by other local bodies to aerodromes. Cr. Higgins, who at the previous meeting of the council was authorised to approach the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, reported the results of his conversation with the authorities in Wellington. The Minister, he said, had made it very clear that the Government would not consider contributing anything • to local aerodromes, but was prepared to undertake improvement works. He had, however, stressed the desirability of the council’s converting the aerodrome into a. first-class airport, suggesting that this might be Napier’s contribution to the defence of the country. The implication behind the conversation, said Cr. Higgins, was that the council should look to ths> future. Little Hope of Legislation In explanation of the position, the Mayor said the council had no means of contributing to the aerodrome except by a grant from unauthorised , grants account, and the money available from this source was negligible. Nor did the County Council have the power to rent the property free, and though an effort was being made to have legislation secured which would enable them to assist, there was little hope that the necessary powers would be granted. He also detailed Union Airways’ contribution to the aerodrome, which, though it recently had been increased, was still inadequate, he said. Cr. M. S. Spence suggested that it was unfair that' the Borough Council should be asked to foot the bill for Napier's contribution to national defence while other local bodies were not approached. The vital question was whether the council had the right to ask Napier ratepayers tio shoulder the burden of expenditure involved The delegation to wait on the County Council was then appointed.