OUR AIRPORT and 'DROME AND OTHER MATTERS.

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 40, 13 March 1930, Page 8

OUR AIRPORT and 'DROME AND OTHER MATTERS.

Contributed by "Senex.")

•It has been truly said that '' It takes all sorts of people to make up a world to whieli adage a /well known politician from Erin added "And thank the powers I'm not one of 'em." And a great statesman, who incidentally made, as many mistakes during his career as most folks do, also said, "We're none of us infallible, not even the youngest of" us. V And there is also the notification erected in a, saloon in Arizona during the early mining days "Please do not shoot the pianist—he's doing his best."

Which brings "Senex" to, the subject of Aerodromes, Airports, and similar matters. During the past few days many folks have collogued with him on these subjects, and truth to say, the matter is one on which many ardent well wishers of the district are more or less "up in the air" about the re6ent decision of- the BiveT Board, w&ieh, temporarily at all events, has .deprived our district of a magnificent and golden opportunity of coming right to the

front by the establishment, on a rite unequalled in the Dominion, of an aero-

drome antt airport,

Many of those, most interested in the «>e!vancement of the Hutt are saying very unpleasant tilings, and denouncing the action of the majority of the Board, and of the many to whom "Senex" has,spoken there are but very few who approve it. Denunciation of the Board's action is in many cases loud .and deep, but "Senex" canuot wholly agree with such bitterness.

Still, in all humility, this scribe.who iis not without a portion of that worldly knowledge gained- by a seventy years peregrination through this- v^ale of tears, and amongst all sorts and conditions of men, would point out that even t»he best of us are liable to make mistakes, and there i 3 certainly no harm in that. But when we have made a mistake.and a glaring one at that) it is worse than useless flying into a violent rage when we are kindly and courteously asked to set it right. -And ,t>h6 old adge.* may well be borne in mind, another old saying, "Rudeness and impertinence is neither argument

noT wit."

"Sfenex" holds no brief for the Hutt Borough Council, and would be the last either by speech or pen'to'defend that Body were it guilty of any act of discourtesy. But Tecent happenings disclose the fact-that, acting on a sense of duty as the curator of the best interests of every resident of the Borough, the Council addressed a polite and courteous letter to .the Biver Board asking, that the' Board's recent'decision be reconsidered. It was explained that this request foT reconsideration was in the interest of aviation, in Which so great an interest is taken, by many of the burgesses, and it was explicitly stated that the Council's letter was not intended (nor was it) as a criticism Gf the previous action of the River Board. The reception met With by the

Council's letter was not one of whicli the Board should be proud, and *.he cheap sneer as to the Council providing an airport is unworthy of it. It is a point worthy of the consideration of members of the Board that the Borough Council is elected by the votes of every resident of the Borough; not as is the case with x the River Board by the suffrages of a limited number of property holdeTs, The former possesses tflie confidence of a big majority of the adult residents, while ''slogans and catchcries to secure votes" are responsible for the election of some at least, of the members, of the Board, on an extremely limited franchise. •

It is obviously tlie duty of the Borough. Council to safeguard by every means in its power th« interests of every x resident in the district, and "Senex" is at one with the large number of taxpayers and residents who strongly commend it for its action in trying, even at the last minute, to secure Gfeax Island for an' aerodrome and airport for the Hutt Valley.

Of the merits of the question of leasing Gear Island, the amount of rent to be paid, the wisdom of the Board in accenting tihe tenders they have done, "Senex" prefers not to "speak. It is so obvious that it Teally does not need writing about. The present, action may or may not be one that is justified by the catch-cry about lessening the Eiver Rate. That is a matter for the taxpayers at the next election.