AUCKLAND 'DROME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 94, 7 May 1937, Page 6

AUCKLAND 'DROME

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Secrecy Surrounds Plans of Authorities

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AUCKLAND, Last Night. Survey* commenced by the Public Works Department abont three months ago in the area between Kumeu aud Eiverhead, with a view, it is believed, to selocting a Bite for a military aerodrome supplementary to the Eoyal New Zealand Air Force base at Hobsonville, ,have been completed. Farmera whose land was ineluded in the area surveyed are eagerly awaiting an announcement by the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, and the offers for their properties in whole or in part that are expected to follow if 5t is decided to con- - struct an aerodrome. Official reticence has been an outstanding feature of the survey. The staff engaged professed ignorance of the reason behind their activities and residents, who naturally were interesttd in the work, were informed that it was a Public Works survey. A number of fariners whose land was ineluded in the survey communicated with various Government departments and were advised that nothing would be decided until the survey had been completed, but that an announcement would follow shortly afterwards. The area surveyed- is of approximately 600 acres and is roughly square. It is mostly flat land and by airline is only about five miles from Hobsonville. Practically the whole of the land of two or three owners is ineluded and the "area also comprises portions of the property of a number of other farmers. The survey is believed to be part of a plan e.volved by Wing-Commander Cochrane, Chief of the Air Staff, for the extension and development of air defence in New Zealand. It is understood the plan is of the most extensive nature, involving t provision of many more aerodromes than now exist ' in different parts of New Zealand.