CITY’S AIRPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1031, 23 July 1930, Page 18

CITY’S AIRPORT

MISSION SWAMP AS SUITABLE AREA MT. ALBERT DISCUSSION That Mission Swamp, situated behind the Mount Albert Grammar School, could be formed into a suitable airport for Auckland was a suggestion made at a meeting of the Mount Albert Borough Council last evening. In commenting upon a letter from the City Council, requesting that the borough be represented at a conference to be held on July 30, to discuss the question of a commercial airport for Auckland, the Mayor, Mr. L. E. Rhodes, said it was indeed desirous that representatives should attend the conference, but he was of the opinion that the time was not vet opportune for the establishment of an airport. There were the airdromes at Hobsonville and Mangere, which were sufficient for the time being, and if another was required the Government should provide it. "In the future —and the time is bound to come—it will be essential to have an airport for Auckland, but it is not necessary yet,” said Mr. Rhodes. Cr. Buckley said that he held the same views as the Mayor. It was a question of commercial aviation, and consequently it should be left to private enterprise. Local bodies could go too far into questions of that sort, he concluded. "I do not agree with those remarks,” said Cr. Kayes. "We have Mission Swamp at our back door, and that would make an ideal airport. It is in close proximity to Mount Albert, and for that reason alone we should interest ourselves. I have taken particular notice of the swamp, and there would be a runway of one and a-half miles in one direction, and at least one and a-quarter miles in another direction.” According to Cr. Langley, it' would be folly not to be represented at the conference. “We have a big area right alongside of us which would no doubt be most suitable, and we must not lose sight of the prospects. If the airport were established there, it would prove one of the greatest assets we have,” he said. It was decided that the Mayor and Cr. Langley would represent the council at the forthcoming conference.