JET AIRCRAFT FOR CITY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29517, 19 May 1961, Page 14

JET AIRCRAFT FOR CITY

Progress League Discussion

"In the matter of the airport Mr Shand and his successor to the post of Minister in charge of Civil Aviation, Mr Mathison, were Tweedledum and Tweedledee to me,” said Mr H. E. Radley at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Progress League on Wednesday evening. Mr Radley was discussing a letter from Mr S. B. Barltrop about jet aircraft for Christchurch. Mr Radley said that the league had been told lies in its inquiries about the airport. He also said that it had pleaded with Mr Mathison not to buy Electra aircraft. “They prove to be an embarrassment like the DC-6 aircraft,” said Mr Radley. “Over the last 100 years, by an accident of geography, the shipping stopped at Auckland or Wellinjgton, but by an accident of topography we are able to provide one of the best airports.” said Mr Radley, He said that the Government, in closing the Tasman to jet operators until the completion of Mangere in three years, was “putting a stranglehold on us just in case we get anywhere.” Mr Radley said that on several occasions a member of the league would be given information that something was to be done about Harewood in a few months, and the report was taken in committee. In the end nothing was done. “It put us off for six months,” he said. Mr P. M. McShane agreed with this. The council decided to write to Mr Barltrop saying that it agreed in principle with his views and wished to be advised of the time of a meeting of Mr Barltrop's Jets-for-Christchurch committee with the Minister in charge of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) at the Christchurch airport. The council also decided to approach the City Council's airport committee.