OVERSEAS AIR TERMINALS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24986, 21 September 1946, Page 2

OVERSEAS AIR TERMINALS

“CHANGES IN N.Z. LIKELY” OPINION OF MAYOR. OF CHRISTCHURCH That Auckland might not remain the centre for overseas Pacific airways, was the opinion expressed by the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Citizens’ Association last evening. The terminus was more likely to be Palmerston North, said Mr Andrews, who added that this would be of some advantage to Christchurch. While flying-boats were being used at present, he was under the impression that these would not be continued when suitable land aircraft became available, he remarked, describing the flying-boat as a “makeshift.” “We are still putting up a fight. The City Council thought that the first necessity was to be able to say that we have a ‘drome which could land any plane liable to arrive,” said Mr Andrews. This had led to the proposal to extend Harewood aerodrome with runways 7000 feet long and up to 300 feet wide. Concreting could not be done at present, and the cost would be very high. Whether the Government would take.over the aerodrome or whether it would remain with the City Council was a matter of future policy. “The main thing is to be able to say. ‘here is a landing field big enough to take anything you’ve got.’ ” said the speaker. Mr Andrews mentioned the interest of the retiring chairman (Mr A. J. Scott) in a direct Christchurch-Mel-bourne air service, and said that once there seemed a good prospect of this being established. “We haven’t lost all hope yet,” he commented.