International Airport

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25831, 16 June 1949, Page 4

International Airport

When Mr J. Mathison, M.P., told a public meeting at Linwood on Tuesday evening that he failed to see the urgency for developing Harewood as an international airport he took a narrow view of the subject. Not only Christchurch, Canterbury, and the rest of the South Island are urgently concerned; the whole of New Zealand is. It is essential that decisions about the future development of international air services should be made as soon as possible. Christchurch and Canterbury have a special reason for seeking an early decision from the Government, for all the indications, and the evidence so far, point to Harewood as the international airport for the South Island. The Harewood Overseas Air Terminal Committee and other South Island interests, which have been pressing their claims for an international airport for nearly two years, cannot be blamed for feeling that the Government is taking an unduly long time to make up its mind. The Government does not Ifick material to assist it to reach a decision. It has the Tymms mission’s report, : which makes a strong case for a South Island international airport, and Hare wood as the site; and in September, 1947, it appointed an aerodromes committee to investigate and report on New Zealand aerodromes. The Prime Minister has said that the Government will make no decision onHarewood until it has received and considered the committee’s report. Within six months of its appointment the committee was able to make recommendations for the development of Wellington’s airport at Rongotai, which the Government is acting on. After nearly two years South Island interests do not unreasonably expect the committee and the Government to come to the point of decision about the South Island’s international airport; and they are certainly not unreasonable in looking for a decision in favour of Harewood. Mr Mathison believes that much of the agitation for an international airport at Harewood is political. He is mistaken.