SOUTHERN AIR TERMINAL

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25226, 3 July 1947, Page 8

SOUTHERN AIR TERMINAL

DECISION ON SITE SOUGHT EXPERT COMMITTEE SUGGESTED An immediate decision on the location of an overseas air terminal for the South Island by a committee of experts is to be sought from the Government by local bodies and other interested organisations in Canterbury. A conference of representatives of 37 organisations, which was called by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, decided unanimously yesterday to urge the Government to set up the committee forthwith and make a decision so that the authority in the locality selected could take steps immediately to proceed with the necessary groundwork, and make essential preparations for the handling of overseas aircraft. The conference decided to present the resolution to the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) and to send copies to each member of Parliament in the district. It agreed also to press the claims of Harewood as the overseas terminal for the South Island, and appointed the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews) and Messrs J. R. Dench (convenor), A. Macfarlane, T. H. Langford, A. B. Grant, H. C. Hurst, E. C. Bathurst and D. W. Westenra as a committee to carry out the decisions of the conference.

The president of the Chamber of Commerce (Mr H. C. Hurst), who presided over an attendance of 71 delegates, said the Chamber had been interested in a direct air service to the South Island, and had made investigations in Australia with the assistance of the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. It was now time for a determined effort to secure from the Government a decision to establish an overseas terminal in the South Island. Additional Cost

Mr J. R. Dench, who moved the main resolution, said the South Island was at a disadvantage with the North Island in air travel, and this would increase as air travel grew. The only trans-Tasman air service available was by Tasman Empire Airways from Auckland to Sydney, which involved extra cost for Christchurch passengers and loss of time. The cost was £39 10s with an additional £7 if Melbourne was the destination. As the distance from Melbourne to Christchurch was approximately 1470 miles, the fare on a South Island service, compared with Australian inter-State airways, would be as low as £l5 to £2O single. “But this is not all the cost,’’ added Mr Dench. “The mileage and time factors of this roundabout trip are a deterrent to would-be passengers. How much tourist and commercial traffic we lose thereby can be imagined, as we know all new services bring new users.” Mr W. A. Bascand, who seconded the resolution, said it should be the aim of Governmental authority to make overseas air travel something not confined to business executives and top Government officials. The final development of an overseas terminal might not be a matter of urgency, but a decision on the location and acquisition was. Customs Facilities Mr Andrews quoted a letter he had received from the Minister of Customs (Mr W. Nash) about providing customs facilities at Harewood. Mr Nash said in his reply that action would be taken as soon as it appeared warranted. Harewood would first have to be accepted by the International Civil Aviation Organisation as an international airport, and he had been informed by the Director of Civil Aviation that nothing could be done until additional improvements had been made and certain facilities provided. “Can you expect us to spend tens of thousands of pounds in anticipation of what we might never get?” asked Mr Andrews. “The City Council is prepared to go on and develop Harewood, but it wants some assurance that the airport will be recognised as an international airport if thousands of pounds are spent.” Mr Andrews said he believed there was a very strong effort being made by interested parties to keep the fly-ing-boat service, which was not an economical setvice, and could not compete with land planes in payload or speed. Mr T. H. Langford suggested that the South Island Local Bodies’ Association should nominate the experts for the committee. They should be men of international renown and not men with local prejudices. Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon quoted a Dunedin newspaper report that air authorities in Wellington considered that a direct trans-Tasman service to the South Island was unlikely within five years. He suggested that the South Island should make its slogan “five years is not good enough.” Australian Service Mr C. C. Holland, who moved the second resolution, mentioned the statement by the Air Minister (Mr F. Jones) that no operating agency bad expressed a desire for landing facilities in the South Island. He added that if the statement was true, it was extremely surprising as he understood the City Council had made representations’for a direct service on behalf of Australian National Airways. Mr Andrews: If they had been allowed, they would have been running a service now. Mr Holland said he understood that Australian National Airways was prepared to run a service as often as the traffic warranted and as soon as the New Zealand Government gave permission. Mr E. T. Beaven referred to the Dunedin newspaper report that 56.5 per cent, of the passenger traffic on the Tasman Empire Airways service over the last seven months had originated from the Auckland province. “That means that Auckland has virtually had a priority of more than 50 per cent, of the business on this service,” he said. “We have a claim to our own terminal in the South Island.’’