The Press THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1953. International Airports

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27075, 25 June 1953, Page 8

The Press THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 1953. International Airports

The report from Auckland that the Government will be forced to press on with an international airport near that city if Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd., is to continue in business assumes too much. It is true that when modern land aircraft are used for the regular Tasman service, whether by T.E.A.L. or by some merger organisation, Whenuapai will not be a suitable aerodrome. It has, however, not yet been established that overseas air lines serving New Zealand must necessarily go to Auckland, or near it. Auckland has the advantage of being closer to the direct route between North America and Australia than any other New Zealand city. Against this must be set the disadvantages of not yet having even a site for an aerodrome capable of handling safely big jet aircraft and of being far from the geographical centre of the country. On the other hand Christchurch has already an airport of international standard, closer to the geographical centre, and also closer to the seat of government, which could be served conveniently by internal services to the new Rongotai aerodrome. Wellington has no chance of having its own satisfactory international aerodrome, so that its interests must lie with Harewood. The decision to spend perhaps £5,000,000 on a new airport at Auckland, supposing a suitable site could be found, could not be made lightly, and without real assurance that this is unavoidable. The Auckland report gave one reason in particular why the Government should hesitate about heavy expenditure at Auckland; that is the probability that this country will have to find very large sums either to buy new aircraft for T.E.A.L. or to help buy aircraft for a merger taking over T.E.A.L.’s Tasman monopoly. This monopoly appears to be T.E.A.L,’s most substantial asset, because it is reported that the company has no reserves to set against the cost of new aircraft, which may amount to £3,000,000. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, which may absorb T.E.A.L., is, on the scanty information available (including annual votes by the New Zealand Parliament towards its losses), in not much better shape. In fact, the financial position of these companies is the strongest argument for their amalgamation. Whichever way the Government turns it will be faced with heavy expenditure if it wishes to retain an interest in the Tasman service, to which it should not needlessly add heavy expenditure on an overseas aerodrome at Auckland. It is not at all unlikely that reliance on Harewood would be the most economical and most efficient proposition. Harewood is already the best aerodrome in New Zealand and the only one that adequately complies with international standards. It will soon be better as the City Council and Ministry of Works go ahead in partnership. This development, now chiefly for the comfort and convenience of passengers, will cost ' relatively little.