Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 8, 2020 9:56:48 GMT 12
Here's an interesting take on things from the EVENING POST, 18 July 1944 (yes they did start planning Wellington Airport 15 years before it opened)
RONGOTAI AIRPORT
RATEPAYERS FAVOUR PORIRUA
Comparing Rongotai as an airport with Porirua the Wellington Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association urges the authorities concerned to consider the merits of the head of the harbour at Porirua. The published report, the association contends in a statement, shows the disadvantages of Rongotai for the great planes that are to come to this country after the war, and on this account urges long-range consideration of the Porirua site before definite decision on Rongotai.
By the reclamation of three-quarters of a mile of the shallow waters at the head of Porirua Harbour an aerodrome twice as extensive and shut off from the open sea could be provided away from built-up areas, and in a position less of a necessary nuisance than Rongotai would be, says the statement. With electric express trains running through the new tunnel, the Porirua airport would be right alongside the through main trunk line between Wellington and Auckland, and the aerodrome could have its own station and siding. Such a position would be infinitely more handy to people from the whole of the Wellington district than Rongotai could ever be, and the Porirua airport would, with modern train transport, be practically the same distance in time from Thorndon as Rongotai. In the case of Porirua there would be no question of dispossessing people of their homes, or of purchasing golf links at an estimated cost of £125,000, and so depriving Wellington of an "oasis," while Rongotai aerodrome would revert to sports grounds badly needed by Wellington.
The association maintains that in all respects the Porirua project would be better, larger, cheaper, and more convenient to the province than Rongotai, whilst Wellington would be rid of a highly vulnerable aerodrome open to attack from the sea and exposed to every wind that blows. Porirua on the other hand was sheltered between low hills which offered no obstacle to easy ascent, its harbour was free of fogs and mist, and at Pahautanui there existed an almost ideal and wholly sheltered seaplane base also, rubbing elbows with the main trunk railway line.
The statement urges the safeguarding of open spaces to improve the health of the people.
RONGOTAI AIRPORT
RATEPAYERS FAVOUR PORIRUA
Comparing Rongotai as an airport with Porirua the Wellington Ratepayers' and Citizens' Association urges the authorities concerned to consider the merits of the head of the harbour at Porirua. The published report, the association contends in a statement, shows the disadvantages of Rongotai for the great planes that are to come to this country after the war, and on this account urges long-range consideration of the Porirua site before definite decision on Rongotai.
By the reclamation of three-quarters of a mile of the shallow waters at the head of Porirua Harbour an aerodrome twice as extensive and shut off from the open sea could be provided away from built-up areas, and in a position less of a necessary nuisance than Rongotai would be, says the statement. With electric express trains running through the new tunnel, the Porirua airport would be right alongside the through main trunk line between Wellington and Auckland, and the aerodrome could have its own station and siding. Such a position would be infinitely more handy to people from the whole of the Wellington district than Rongotai could ever be, and the Porirua airport would, with modern train transport, be practically the same distance in time from Thorndon as Rongotai. In the case of Porirua there would be no question of dispossessing people of their homes, or of purchasing golf links at an estimated cost of £125,000, and so depriving Wellington of an "oasis," while Rongotai aerodrome would revert to sports grounds badly needed by Wellington.
The association maintains that in all respects the Porirua project would be better, larger, cheaper, and more convenient to the province than Rongotai, whilst Wellington would be rid of a highly vulnerable aerodrome open to attack from the sea and exposed to every wind that blows. Porirua on the other hand was sheltered between low hills which offered no obstacle to easy ascent, its harbour was free of fogs and mist, and at Pahautanui there existed an almost ideal and wholly sheltered seaplane base also, rubbing elbows with the main trunk railway line.
The statement urges the safeguarding of open spaces to improve the health of the people.
