ANOTHER HOPE FOR AVIATION.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 39, 6 March 1930, Page 8

ANOTHER HOPE FOR AVIATION.

■ We aTe not surprised at. the decision arrived at \by the members of the Biver Board ihadihering to their- original .motion refusing t^e use of Gear Island to aviation. Although, we entirely disagree with .the: decision arrived at we have every respect for those members who, -having made a- decision, had t>ho. courage to abide by it, in the face of violent opposition. , At tihe same time we ,do not believe that those who opposed it, did so with any idea of hinT dering the progress of the district, but rather because they 'considered that i&ear Island was too ■good for tihe pur-' pose and would better serve the needs of the people if converted into a beaV tiful park or children's play ground. At the same time no one has-yet propounded a schemb for making any such idea, revenue producing.

There is an Oldsaying that when one door closes another opens, and we feel, quite certain that if a location'can ibe pointed out that is acceptable.to. those members of tn~e Board.,who &aye hitherto opposed aviation, all .difficulties would ibe overcome. ' Gear Island has so many claims as a suitable site for an- aerodTome on account of its central position and its -proximity to the railway, tihat it may be difficult to. reconcile. the aviators to a place less attractive,^ and they may^. therefore transfer- their ."business to, say, the Wairarapa ot tie . neighbourhood o£ Plimmerton. The Hutt Valley can ill afford to lose this progress and we will make a suggestion tnat it is hoped will be the means of^ having this valuable development to tie , district. The Board is in possession of ] a considerable amoimt of waste land at the estuary which is in the process i oi reclamation by natuTal means. Some. of this land is sufficiently higih to be

free from flood and we believe, tiiougto it lacks many, of the advantages of Gear Island, .it might be sufficiently improved "to be used as an air base. Let the Aero Club examine this • land and make application to establish their base there ,. and thus make good use•of what for many years to come must be waste land. <j