ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 229, 30 October 1930, Page 6

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING

EUGGESTED NAPIER AERODROME LOCALITY ON MEANEE ROAD. There was a large gathering at the Napier Thirty Thousand Club rooms last evening when a public meeting was held to discuss the possibilities of obtaining a temporary landing field near Napier, when members of the Hawke's Bay Aero Club met Napier enthusiasts, Mr R. C. Wright presiding. ln reference to the landing field Mr D. Newbigin expressed the opinion that an ideal ground of from 90 to 100 acres was to be found on Mr Richmond's property on the Awatoto-Meanee road. He had surveyed the area and found that this would permit of a runway of about 1000 yards, and he suggested that a committee be appointed to consider the matter. The view was expressed by Mr O'Dowd that although the Government was prepared to support about six clubs only, he did not see why the Hawke's Bay Aero Club should not receive that support. This view was supported by Mr W. E. Barnard, M.P., who stated that the efforts of Napier enthusiasts would be greatly helped by joining up with Hastings. He would lend what assistance he could to secure a landing ground near Napier. A suggestion that enthusiastic persons should become members of the Hawke's Bay Aero Club was made by Mr Neville Harston, who stated that the various local bodies could then be approached with a view to obtaining assistance in obtaining an aerodrome. Mr A. C. Wright pointed out, while agreeing that a temporary ground was desirable for carrying on in the meantime, that it would be to the future advantage of flying to approach the Minister with a view to ascertaining to what degree assistance would be forthcoming in the event of the aerodrome finally decided upon being used by comercial or military planes. Mr Gordon explained that the Government had allotted six boundaries to New Zealand and that it was only with the co-operation of the various centres in each club to which a boundary was allotted that flying would progress. The Government was prepared to support each district to the extent of £500, and for this reason he considered it impracticable for Napier enthusiasts to form a club, but they should join the Hawke's Bay Aero Club and establish a centre of the Hawke's Bay Club. After further discussion, on the motion of Mr C. D. Cox, it was decided unanimously that three or four members of the proposed Napier Aero Club meet members of the Hawke's Bay Aero Club in order to approach Mr Richmond with a view to obtaining a temporary landing field on his property. Messrs L. Limbrick, N. Harston, R. C. Wright, A. Wright and F. J. Annan were appointed the committee.