Public Body Support For Jets At Harewood

Press, Volume C, Issue 29477, 1 April 1961, Page 11

Public Body Support For Jets At Harewood

Thirty-five public bodies in the South Island had given support to the proposal to put Christchurch airport on the jet route, Mr S. B. Baltrop said in Christchurch yesterday. Mr Baltrop is convenor of the “Jet for Christchurch” protest meeting to be held in Christchurch on April 18. Mr Baltrop said he had written to about 120 public bodies in the South Island. So far 35 had replied, indicating they supported the proposal. There were no objections. "Representatives of public bodies will come from as far as Invercargill, Dunedin and Timaru, to speak at the meeting,” Mr Baltrop said. “In their replies many of the bodies emphasised the value of increased tourist revenue to be gained through the introduction of jets.” he said.

“If New Zealand is put on the world jet network it means we will benefit by £lO million or more annually. “The Minister of Tourist

and Publicity (Mr Shand) said recently that New Zealanders travelling overseas spend £7j million annually,” Mr Baltrop said. “On the other hand tourists in this country spend £3J million. This means a debit balance of £4 million annually.” Junior Council Views The Christchurch Junior Council has given its support to the proposal in a report prepared by' its provincial questions committee. “If tenders were called now, we could have Christchurch Airport ready for overseas aircraft within six months,” said the report “Why then must we wait for the completion of Mangere Airport ant lose four years’ tourist revenue? “We have an International airport among the best of its kind in the world. It is centrally situated and has land on which the runways could be extended nine and a-haM thousa id feet. “These extensions could be done at comparatively low cost and would bring to Christchurch and the South Island a decided increase in trade and tourists," said the report. The report said an expert had estimated that the cost of extending the runway could prove economical by world standards because of the natural hard base of river metal. The cost of the project mighit ty £100,600, the report said. Of this, about £40,000 would pay for the extensions anil be shared by the Government and the Christchurch City Council. The rest would pay for lighting and navigational aids, and would therefore be the responsibility of the Civil Aviation administration. There was only one course open—that the Government granted the right to extend “our semi-international airport.” said the report. "This is a matter that concerns us all, for only by public support can we ever hope to see Christchurch and the South Island become a major link in the world jet route.”