AIR PAGEANT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 657, 9 October 1933, Page 7

AIR PAGEANT

XMAS ATTRACTION DISCUSSION CONCERNING i "™CHARGE FOR VISITING ! 'PLANES. i t "THE BIENEVOLENT SOCIETY." "We face the fact that th'e time is not far distant when a first-class airport will be a primary necessity," said the Mayor (Mr. T. Jackson) at 'Friday evening's meeting of the Rotorua Borough Council. Mr. Jackson expressed the opinion that the day was approaching when civil aviation would boom in New Zealand and when that time eame Rotorua could not afford to be left behind. He suggested ' that the time was not far distant when the council would have to set aside a certain amount each year for the development of an airport. The discussion was apropos of a request that assistance be given in clearing a runway at the aerodrome. ' It was decided to make the necessary 'labour availablg and also the use of a truck, the work to be supervised by Squadron-Leader Butler of Rotorua Airways. Christmas Pageant. Cr. J. Banks, chairman of the Adyancement Committee, said that the Auckland Aero Club was prepared to stage a pageant in Rotorua at Christmas if they could seeure the use of th'e aerodrome for three days to recoup themselves. It was considered that the open nature of the aerodrome rendered it almost impossible to obtain a good "gate" for the exhibition. Cr. Goodson opposed the suggestion. The local club was being charg- ' ed practically nothing for the aerodrome and he thought visiting planes should pay. The council was not a benevolent societj^; it must receive some return for its expenditure. •Cr. Banks said that Rotorua had invited the Auckland 'planes. The Auckland club was not anxious to corne and if they could not get the use oi the aerodrome they would not come. The pageant would be a very big attraction and it should be encouraged. The Mayor said that the local 'plane paid a fee of ls a landing and he thought the visiting 'planes should' pay a similar amount. Cr. Banks said that the Auckland club was postponing a northern tour to come to Rotorua- and the council could hardly impose a charge upon it. Cr. Johnson said that there might he as many as a dozen visiting 'planes and this would he a very big attraction. They could not afilord to lose this for the sake of a few shillings. It was finally decided to grant the use of the aerodrome to the Auckland club for three days as suggested, an amendment that a charge of ls per landing be made being lost. "We.had better change our name to 'The Benevolent Society'," commented Cr. Goodson, the mover of 'the amendment, in closing the discussion.