Expansion Of Airport Urged By U.S. Visitor

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29382, 8 December 1960, Page 19

Expansion Of Airport Urged By U.S. Visitor

The belief that Christchurch as a city holding a key position in relation to the Antarctic, to the newly-expand-ing tourist air routes of the world and to the great scenic potential of the South Island, should not hesitate to further immediately any possibilities of extending her airport facilities was expressed yesday by Mr Robert B. Atwood, a director of Alaskan Airlines and editor and publisher of the “Anchorage Daily Times.” Stopping briefly in Christchurch after a two weeks’ visit to McMurdo Sound as a guest of the United States Navy, Mr Atwood outlined his reasons for emphasising the urgency of the problem. Because a strikingly similar situation had been experienced during the late 1940’s in Anchorage, Mr Atwood said he felt well able to understand the problems facing Christchurch at this time. Before the war the town was a small settlement of only 2500 people. Today, with a population of 84,000, Anchorage was a thriving, progressive city and international air centre for tourist traffic from all ovdr the world, he said. Separate Consideration Although fully understanding the position regarding the development of Auckland’s proposed international airport at Mangere, he believed that the strategic situation of Christchurch warranted entirely separate considerations from North Island needs, said Mr Atwood. Apart from the purely tourist angle, your importance as a jump-ing-off ground for the Antarctic cannot be over estimated,” he said. “Although it is impossible to predict what will happen there during the next 30 or 40 years, I feel that New Zealand should stay in to hold on to its key position. Although at present United States air operations from Christchurch to the Antarctic do not require jet runways and extended facilities, the possibility of this occurring in the future should surely be considered. “With the expected increase of Antarctic operations, extended facilities will undoubtedly be required, but so will the economic benefits to be gained by Christchurch rise appreciably,” he said. “Anything that you can do for the development of the Antarctic will be beneficial for you. The question of admitting overseas airlines in to your country is merely a bird in the bush compared with this question of furthering progress in the Antarctic, which is definitely a bird in the hand and well worth working on.” Tourist Possibilities Discussing the extension of New Zealand’s Antarctic interests to the tourist field, Mr Atwood again emphasised the unique position of the Dominion in relation to tourist possibilities in this region. It was not perhaps commonly realised that not more than 5000 people during the whole history of mankind had foot on the Antarctic continent. This was in itself an overwhelming attraction for thousands of the world’s most seasoned and nov-elty-sqeking tourists. New Zealand could well become a pioneer in this new field.

Although such proposed airline developments were considered too costly for small cities such as Christchurch to bear alone, the Anchorage experiment had proved

that they were possible given time, patience and a concerted public attitude.

“An international airport for jet aircraft does not necessarily begin simultaneously with the arrival of several airline companies stampeding for priority. It can begin purely as a refuelling point for jet aircraft and gradually expand from this stage. Once the need is created and accepted things can get going. But you must not wait,” said Mr Atwood.