The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1949. Plans for Harewood

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25737, 24 February 1949, Page 4

The Press THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1949. Plans for Harewood

The Minister in charge of the Air Department (Mr F. Jones) has frequently been vague or evasive about the Government’s plans for the development of Harewood as an international airport. His latest statement on the subject, reported yesterday morning, is again vague, and will not satisfy the public or the South Isla'nd interests which have asked frequently for a plain statement of the Government’s intentions. In his reply to “ The “ Press ”, which asked him about the plans for paving the runways at Harewood, Mr Jones spoke of “ tentative ” plans being prepared for the, development of the aerodrome. He does not say what these plans are or to what stage they will bring the development of Harewood. There is also no mention of the relationship these plans may bear to the plan for paving the runways which the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) announced three months ago. Mr Semple said then that the paving of runways to bring Harewood to full internal standards had already been authorised. The work was to be done this year and next year, and would provide runways that could be lengthened and strengthened to comply with international standards. Here, then, we have two sets of plans: one “tenta- “ tive ”, for development to a standard unspecified, the other “ author- “ ised ” for runways which it would be possible, later, to lengthen and strengthen to international standard. It is possible, and pleasant, to assume that the tentative plans are directed to full international requirements. It is possible, and pleasant, to assume, further, that if and when a scheme of full international development emerges from this tentative planning, nothing done in accordance with Mr Semple’s already authorised plan will be found damagingly inconsistent with* it; and that this very important consideration is now being carefully studied. But these pleasant assumptions are only assumptions; and Canterbury and the South Island have been dieted on such insubstantial fare too long already. What they want is assurance, clear, fiill, and final, such as the member for Selwyn, Mr McAlpine, has reasonably called for.