REPLY TO MR JONES

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25607, 23 September 1948, Page 3

REPLY TO MR JONES

“ NEGATIVE ATTITUDE ” / DEPLORED “As the members of our organisation are vitally interested in quick cheap, and comfortable transport your letter—disclosing as it does a negative attitude by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand on the question of development of air service between the two countries—came ay a very great shock.” said a letter sent by the president of the Canterbury Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Association (Mr L. E Goold) in reply to Mr F. Jones (Min--1 «£-’ n charge of Air Department). We feel very strongly that this matter should not be allowed to’ rest whbre it is. and we respectfully sug 565 ,t or mediate consideration of the Government that an early state ment be made on the future of Hare wood as an international aerodrome tc pnaole the citizens of Canterbury and the South Island—who have Bhowr such enterprise and foresight ip the development of . Flarewood—to go right ahead with the work.” Mr Goold con hnued. “With full consciousness of the implications of the rapid develop ment of air transport, we ask fq'r jm mediate and serious consideration of

our claim, along with the other interested organisations, for early recognition of Harewood. Progress in Australia “To say that all passengers leaving Australia for the United States and New Zealand require to leave from Sydney appears to us to be begging the question because our inquiries show that the Commonwealth, unlike the Dominion, appears to be fully alive to the need for taking care of the rapid advance in this new form of transport, and. although it may appear to be a good answer that Australia has only one international airport a few facts concerning the progress of aviation in Australia are much to the point.” the letter continued.

“Tasmania, with a population approximating the population of Canterbury. operates five, airports, three of them capable of handling Skymasters and Constellations, and a fourth up to this standard is to be commenced this year The Australian Civil Aviation Department at present maintains 133 Government aerodromes. 43 emergency landing grounds, five flying-boat bases and six emergency alighting areas, in addition to which there are 237 li censed aerodromes, making a grand total of 427. In our case it appears that Harewood is the onlv non-mili-tary aerodrome of any size near a centre of big population,” said Mr Goold.

j “ T o say that 'other centres in the ■ Dominion desire "International aerodromes in their centres is beside the question, for obviously, as has been well recognised by or anisations as ■ far north as Auckland and as far south I as Dunedin, the first international air oort for the South Island should be located at the centre of the feeder services. and at the point of the greatest distribution of the peculation and visitors. This is apart from the fact thai ;’t is well known that Harewnod’s nat- : »iral advantages place it well in from of any other aerodrome in its claim for declaration as an overseas air j terminal,” Mr Goold added,-