Proposals For Auckland Airport Criticised

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29232, 16 June 1960, Page 18

Proposals For Auckland Airport Criticised

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 15. “There is concern and even dismay in aviation circles over proposals from the Government whereby Auckland is to get an international airport at a bargain price,” says the “Evening Post” in a feature article. The article claims that several millions must still be found toward the cost of the airport, and says that under the Government proposals the rest of New Zealand will find them. The article says that under proposals stated by the DeputyPrime Minister (Mr Skinner) and the Minister of Finance (Mr Nordmeyer), 35 local authorities in greater Auckland will find between them one-seventh of their theoretical half-share of the cost of runway, taxiways and related construction works, and the rest of New Zealand will find sixsevenths.

Expressed as a proportion of total capital costs of civil engineering works (Government and local authority), Auckland will get an airport developed to Stage 1 (Electra standard) for one-thirteenth of the expenditure and a full international airport for one-twentieth of the engineering work, the article continues. “That represents a saving to the greater Auckland local authorities over the whole period of the loan of £4,130.550 on the Mangere airport proposal offered by the Government last year, the Mayor of Auckland (Mr D. M. Robinson'

has said. “Wellington’s case is <Hf. ferent. Wellington undertook to pay one-third of the cost of engineering works at RongotaL and that Wellington has already done without calling on other local bodies.” The article says that when a reporter sought from official sources information on what increase in fares may follow upon increases in charges if the Gov. ernment’s proposals for financing Mangere airport are proceeded with, reluctant replies were received that, as no details of the proposals had been received, it was not possible to essay ’an opinion. The chairman of National Airways Corporation (Sir Toward Isitt) said he expected that it would be necessary to apply tn the Air Services Licencing Authority for permission to increase fares.