THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24982, 17 September 1946, Page 6

THE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT

HIGHEST STANDARD . DEMANDED CITY COUNCIL TO BUY MORE LAND The determination of the Christchurch City Council to ensure that Harewood airport, whether it continues under municipal control or whether it is taken over by the Government, is equal to the best in the Dominion was expressed by the council last evening. The lack of official information about the future control of air services and aerodromes was criticised by councillors after they had heard representations from a deputation from the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. The council referred the question to the works committee with instructions to proceed as rapidly as possible with the purchase of additional land at Harewood. These extensions will enable the construction of landing strips Capable of serving the largest qverseas airliners as well as the aircraft of internal air services.

improved civil airport facilities at Harewood, retention of the flying training school at* Wigram, and the establishment of a trans-alpine air service, from Canterbury to the West Coast were advocated by the Chamber of Commerce, said the president. Mr J. R. Dench. It was a matter for concern that it had been reported that Wigram might lose its place in aviation. If the trans-alpine service were established, it would attract a valuable tourist traffic to Canterbury and the West Coast, the trip itself being a great experience. Extended facilities for/air traffic at Harewood were dealt with by Mr L. K. Laugesen, chairman of the chamber’s transport committee. More administrative buildings to handle at least 500 passengers a day were urgently required, he said. Meteorological and flying control officers would require extra adjacent sections. The establishment of permanent runways up to international standards was required if the city was to claim its share of heavy traffic. It was realised that the council awaited information about the future of the airport, but the improvements would have to be made in any event and, if there was a change in control, citizens must receive compensation. International Airport Requirements proposed under international air transport control were 7nnn lX f ed + Mr J*odge. Runways 7000 feet long and 500 feet wide would accommodate any aircraft, and a length of 5400 feet would take the aircraft at present in use in New Zealand, he said. Three runways seemed to be generally acceptable. When Cr. G. D. Griffiths suggested that piecemeal additions should be dropped in favour of building new modern offices, members of the deputation said building controls would delay this. More accommodation was urgently ne<?essary. Should the cost of all the works mentioned be charged to ratepayers or to airways passengers? asked Cr J E Tait. The council had obligations, but the principle was important. Mr Laugesen said imposing such charges on passengers would kill the traffic before it developed. Mr Hodge said those organisations which used the airport could pay more for improved facilities. A statement on whether the authorities considered landing fields preferable to flying-boat bases for international traffic was sought by Cr. L. G Amos. _

Sir Leonard Isitt, chairman of the National Airways Corporation, had said handling flying-boats was too costly for general adoption, said Mr Laugesen, so the idea of establishing more such bases had been abandoned. Sir Leonard Isitt considered Lake Ellesmere the only suitable water if a base was established in Canterbury

Development of Harewood Everyone wanted to see Harewood developed, said Cr. M. E. Lyons, but nobody knew when to expect an announcement of the Government’s intentions. The council might proceed with the work and then the'Government come in with a totally different plan. If the council could be given some lead, it would be assured that it was proceeding on approved line,. Christchurch was fortunate in the basic development of Har«wood. jjhere the land (in the opinion of the City Engineer. Mr E. Somers) would not require paved runways to land the heaviest aircraft. Consolidation only was necessary. I The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said i the council had been trying for a long I *l me to obtain the plans of the Na- | tiopal Airways Corporation. The personal views of Sir Leonard Isitt were fairly acceptable, but might not be the views of his board. He had been informed by another official that the

future control of Hare Wood would be left largely to the decision of the council The whole question was a national one, said Cr. Tait. Whenuapai and Ohakea had been constructed largely from public funds. Harewood should be put at the disposal of the corporation if it undertook to develop’ it as a leading airport. If the council completed its present negotiations for the purchase of lend for extensions, it could say to the Government: “Here we have the makings of the finest airport in New Zealand What are we to do?” said Cr. Lyons.