WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1995. Greedy gambit over Wigram surely the vovernment is joking. tither tha Jor the Minister of Detence, Mr Looper, na been badly advised over the asking price for Wigram Air Base. BY The price tage of between $16 million and Milke $19m is ridiculous. It is a fantasy of property wheeler-dealing rather than a realistic starting Fletcher point for a meaningful negotiation. ... The Christchurch City Council's valuations [MANAGING-EDITOR say Wigram is worth $8m to $10m - and there is a good argument for the city to acquire the property for a lot less, say a peppercorn settlement sum. The price the Government is asking defies logic. The underlying zoning designation of the land is rural. Once the defence use is removea, when the Air Force pulls out in September, the propert reverts to rural land. And as the city's deputy mayor and Wigran Task Force member, Morgan Fahey says: "There is no way rural land is worth that kind of figure." Rather than stimulating discussion about ownership of the Wigam land and its future use, the Government's greedy opening gambit is more calculated to put people off. If this happens it will be understandable and a shame. Much time and effort has been put into planning future uses for Wigam since the Government-appointed Wigram Task Force was set up in 1993, after the Ministry of Defence announced the air base would close. In February the task force recommended the city council and the Ngai Tahu form a joint company to buy Wigram and operate it as an airport as well as developing recreation and education uses. This plan is now in jeopardy. The task force and the council has counted on a likely value of $8m to $10m with an absolute ceiling of $12m. If the Government sticks to its price, the development plan will be marginal, if indeed feasible. In 1988 a Defence management study valued Wigram at $25m including the 15 hecrates since annexed for the Wigram Museum and off-base housing also not included in the asking price. Apart from the museum the land Defence will retain contains two hangars, three suppis rore buildy sands be perce ploy has surprised task force members and has the potential to sour what has been a cordial and fruitful partnership between the city and the Air Force for 72 years, since the then NZ Permanent Air Force was set up in 1923. Wigram was the site of the country's the first land-based flying school, set up in 191/ by the imaginative Henry Wigram, later knighted for his services to aviation. As well as founding the Canterbury (NZ) Aviation Company, later taken over by the Government, this far-sighted politician who recognised the potential of aviation as early as 1908, gave the Plumpton Park Trotting Course next to Wigram to the nation for air force use and gifted 2500 pounds o buy a tighter plane. For many years sir Henry was tying s lon champion in high places. It is a tragedy such vision has been lost and succeeded by politicians interested only in balancing the Defence accounts books and seeking a rip-off price for assets either given to this country or funded from the public purse. Wigram should not be closing as an air base. 27-7-95 Wigram winds up A spectacular street parade featuring a "flypast" by Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft and a formal ball to be attended by the Governor-General are planned to mark the closure of Wigram Air Base in September. Former Air Force personnel and the public will be invited to the series of activities planned for the base's final official week. The shutters will come down at Wigram on September 15, after a decision by the Ministry of Defence to retain Woodbourne, педт Blenheim, as its sole South Island base. By Tony Smith Some personnel will remain at Wigram until December 1 to oversee the closure. Squadron Leader John Kirtlan said the RNZAF wanted to celebrate Wigram's special place in its history and its contribution to Christchurch through a series of memorable activities. He said Wigram's demise would have an obvious impact on the city of Christchurch, which would "lose a significant contribution to the community, resulting from the departure of some 500 families. But the closure of the base would also be "keenly felt by the many thousands of servicemen and servicewomen who have served here over the past 58 years." Until recently, almost all Air Force recruits completed their early training at Wigram, "whether it be learning to fly aircraft or gaining technical expertise, clerical skills or catering techniques. "Most Air Force personnel, both past and present hold a special regard for Wigram as a result of haying spent their formative initial training at the base." Squadron Leader Kirtlan said. for farewel wing-d "We want to close the base on a proud note and give retired servicemen an opportunity to reunite for the last time in their first RNZAF home. Bolt will give the service address. • A Closure Parade at Base Wigram (on the tarmac in front of the hangars) from 3pm (1500 'Special place in city's history... Activities planned for Wigram's C-day include: • A Commemorative Service at the Christchurch Cathedral at 11.30am, Sunday September 10. The service will be ied by the Dean of Christchurch, Rev John Bluck, the principal Defence Chaplain and the Wigram Base Chaplain. Air Marshal Sir Richard hours, Thursday September 14. Base personnel will provide an armed squad, flanked by flights from Auckland, Ohakea and Woodbourne air bases. A combined band formed from members of the RNZAF Central Band and the Base Wigram Band will parade. The parade will be re- viewed by the Chiefof Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal John Hosie, accompanied by Wigram Base commander, Group Captain Gordon Wood, with Squadron Leader Alf Harris as parade commander. The Queen's Colour of the RNZAF will be paraded and Air Vice Marshal Hosie's arrival will be marked by a fly-past of CT4 Airtrainer aircraft. Aircraft representing the various roles of the RNZAF will be on display as a backdrop to the parade. The parade will end with a fly-past of Iroquois helicopters during the "Beating of the Retreat" ceremony, which will see the RNZAF ensign lowered for the last time at Wigram. • A Closure Ball will be heldon Thursday Septem- ling ber 14, from 8pm. It will be attended by the Governor-General, Dame Catherine Tizard. The ball is open to past and present RNZAF members and interested members of the public. The admission charge of $45 per head covers supper, refreshments and the night's entertainment, which will feature the dance section of the RNZAF Central Band, a modern dance band and a floor show. • A reunion will be held in conjunction with the ball for people involved with the Bristol Freighter aircraft while they were in the service. Tickets to the ball can be obtained from the organiser, RNZAF Base Wigram, Private Bag, Christchurch or by telepnoning 343-9402.