SUPPORT FOR HAREWOOD

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28748, 20 November 1958, Page 16

SUPPORT FOR HAREWOOD

Otahuhu Mayor’s Submissions "The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, November 19. There was a very good case for constructing the international airport for New Zealand it Christchurch, said the Mayor of Otahuhu (Mr J. D. Murdoch) in submitting the Otahuhu Borough Council’s evidence on the Auckland Harbour Board (Airport) Empowering Bill to the Local Bills Committee of the House of Representatives today. “Since an international airport can be constructed at Chrirtchurch at one-tenth of the coat required for Mangere,” Mr Murdoch asserted, “my council hai a feeling that if New Zealand can afford only one international airport, then there is a very good case for its being at Christchurch. “A very small percentage of the people of Otahuhu will have the chance of travelling oversea! by air. Those who are lucky enough need not begrudge two hours travelling time to get to Christchurch to take off for overseas. “My council feels Auckland h the logical place for an international airport, but if the coat 11 to be too high. Christchurch ii the best position. “My council.’’ Mr Murdoch said, “has also expressed douM as to whether aircraft will continue to require expensive runways of the type proposed. Then is already a move to build senger aircraft for intemationh travel which take off in a fM snorter distance. “Finally,” he said, “the whoh matter of the cost of the airpor is one for the Government ant is hardly the concern of loca taxpayers, 99 per cent, of whoa are not interested in an interna tional airport and have no possi bility of using such an amenity.’ Military Aerodromes A member of the Local Bill Committee said mat Aucklan had been using Whenuapai for 1 years—for five years as an interf national airport—and if it hal not ben originally built as I military airport, it probate!; would not have been there at a • What, he asked, would Auckland have done then? Mr Murdoch replied that he urder the impression that all tn| major airports in New Zealanj had originally been built as mill tary aerodromes. To the Minister of Interna Affairs (Mr Anderton) Mr MuJ doch enlarged on his suggestiol about Christchurch. He said ttf situation was parallel with tha over the Auckland Universif site. “Hobson Bay was the best pM to put the new university, bi that was too expensive,” he sail —"So it stayed in Princes street! The international airport woul benefit the businessman art tourist, not the ratepayer livirt m “his little home.” “It seems to me that we, wi’ only 2.3 million people, wa! everything,” added Mr MurdoC “We are New Zealanders fit —and Aucklanders second. If rt more ’economical to put the ai port somewhere else, put there.”