The Hutt News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1930. GEAR ISLAND AND EASEMENT OF RATES.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 38, 27 February 1930, Page 7

The Hutt News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1930. GEAR ISLAND AND EASEMENT OF RATES.

Much dissatisfaction is being expressed at the dieision arrived at by the Hutt River Board when considering the tenders for the lease, of Gear Island. Undoubtedly the progress of the Hutt Valley has been retarded by the action .of the Board when, with the slender majority of 3 votes to 2, it declined to accept the -highest tender arid refused to allow the island to be used for aviation. It may be .quite true that, as one menibor stated, in five, years time the leasehold will be more valuable than now, but that is not sufficient reason for rejecting and crippling what undoubtedly is destined to be the most advanced method of transportation of tie age. It is admitted by those best qualified to express an opinion, that Bongatai can never/be an air baso worthy of the Capital city of this country, largely on account o£ its exposed position and its unsuitability for training pilots. So rapidly is aviation developing "that it is quite possible in five years time planes, wll be landing in N<-w Zealand not only from Australia, but from the Old .Country and

America, provided suitable ■grounds can be found. This, being the case, it is surely worthy, of more serious consideration than it' has hitherto • received at the hands of three-fifths of - the Kiver Board members. We have frequently been told by authorities that, in the near future an airport will be as important to atown as a seaport or a Tailway station. In face of t*lis weighty argument, Wellington and the HHitt Valley are to be deprived of their rightful position as airports,' because three of our ratepayers' representatives consider aviation more dangerous and troublesome than dairy cows. How is it possible for this young country to progress commercially, industrially, methods ar e to be indulged in? Are yre to be again .reniinded of t>le agita%ons of pre-railway and ,pre-motor days? The progi'ess of the Hutt Valley foT the past six years has been phenomenal and it has been quoted in every corner of New Zealand; are we now to fail in keeping abreast of modern development. ■? The offer that was made by the Wellington Aero. Clu'ix would have provided the district, with an aerodrome free of cost to the ratepayers plus £312 per annum and improvements for 42 acres. Rongotai has eo^t the Wellington ratepayers well over £20,000 for the privilege of having a municipal aerodrome. In Blenheim the Jand was given for the purpose and in New Plymouth, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, and many other places every inducement 'has been offered to. attract what ■the "progressive" Hutt Valley treats with cold indifference. It was stated by one memfe of tie Board that the ratepayers had definitely, expressed themselves against aviation- at the last (-lection. This statement however, did not go unchallenged, for -it was quite evident that it was a case of "the wish '<■ being father to the thought." Members of the board never intended that aviation s-hould be made an election issue and it was entirely due to the offensive manner in which certain pro•poganda was launched on the eve of the election, that the question aroused such a great amount of public interest. The propoganda, which was in tlie form of an annonymous "ticket" was credited f)to the Aero Club and was so worded that it gave offence to two of the

T>oard's most worthy members and aroused a great amount of public indignation wMch may take a considerable time to efface. It was unfortunate. thatmember3 of the board, could not

have been given more time in which to study the proposals placed before them. It was almost an impossibility for any member to *be quite certain of his deduction when called upon to make a decision so hurriedly. Several combinations of tenders were submitted, and considering that certain members had, prior to the election, given an assurance t&at Gear Island would go to -tfc<j highest bidder in order to; support their cry for "easement" of rates, it is not conceivable that the highest ten-

der should be delibei'ately rejected. In the interests of. t&e ratepayers it is to be hoped that the question may be reconsidered and that the maximum rental will be won in order that the rates

may be eased,