ROTORUA AERODROME

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 371, 4 November 1932, Page 6

ROTORUA AERODROME

recent criticisms SQUADRON-LEADER BUTLER OUTLINES FACILITIES NECESSARY THE MAYOR'S REPLY It will be remembered that when addregsing the Rotorua Rotary Club recently Rotarian Ernie Boucher, of Auckland, made some adverse comment regarding the state of the Rotorua a'erodrome and expressed the opinion that during the past year the condition of the landing field had deteriorated considerably. Speaking to a "Post"' representative during the week, Squadron-Leader A. J. Butler, pilot for Rotorua Airways, Ltd., saici that there was no question that the landing ground was developing a bad name throughout New Zealand and was in many cases being omitted from itineraries. In his opinion, the prejudice was also affeeting many tourists who were desirous and likely, under altered conditions, to view the scenery of the district from the air. In this way, the dsvelopment of airmindedness in the Dominion was being hampered. The landing ground is a municipal aerodrome, leased by the company from the Rotorua Borough Couneil and it is therefore considered to be within the province of the borough to maintain the ground in a satisfactory and safe condition. Although during the winter months a certain amount of maintenance and improvement work was being done by relief labour supervised by himself, Squad-ron-Leader Butler considers- that the main essential of rolling with a heavy motor roller was being neglected, and in consequence, the rapdd growth of grass was tending to make the runways tufty and tricky to a visiting pilot who is not well acquainted with the field. He added, however,' that he nimself encountered no difficulty owing to his familiarity with the ground. While realising the difficulties of.the couneil financially, he was of the opin- ' ;on that the neglect to provide smooth and safe landing places was seriously afiecting the progress of the town by depriving it of much airway traffic and revenue. Other very essential necessities were the provision of a wind indicacion cone, landing circle and the marking off by white tiles of the bad spots about the field* The Mayor Replies When approached for a statement defining the position, the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson, said that he could not agree with the remarks made by Mr. Boucher that the condition of the runways had deteriorated and considered them to be in a better condition chan at any time previously. Since ihe engagement of Squadron-Leader Butler by the Rotorua Ahways, Ltd., ■ onsiderable work had been done under ais supervision, many depressions aaving been filled in and the grader utilised to level the ground. a decision to provide a landing circle has already been made by the couneil, said Mr. Jackson, and the marking off of bad spots on the field also being considered. The cornmittee were fully alive to the necesoity of keeping the( field in satisfactory order, and periodieal rolling would be done when the roller was available. When asked if 'the wind-indicator cone would be replaced, Mr. Jackson said that this matter would be considered by the committee at an early 8, and he hoped that when finances peimitted other necessary improvements would be undertaken.