AIRSTRIP ON CHATHAMS

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30274, 29 October 1963, Page 9

AIRSTRIP ON CHATHAMS

Investigation Of Site Only Eta«ineere> would invegti--0B«e a poembte ate for an aarabrip, on the Chatham Wands, not an actual alrstaip, Mr N. E. Kirk, M.P. for Lemelfc®, said on MonMr Kirk, whose electorate iwdudea the islands, aaid he wanted to make tfafe clear m case readers of a resxirt in ‘The Press” on Saturday an airstrip had already been established. “There is only one adrstrip on the Hands and that is at Haupupu,” Mr Kirk said. 'These current investiigationa foßow an original survey in respect to this site, but even when these surveys are completed, assuming that the site is setnsfactory it will be some time before toe airstrip can be oompteted there. “Before any work can start toe tend wall have to be acquired either by lease or purchase, and id seems probabte that, a portion, if not aiH of it, i may be land that is held to Maori title. ‘"lte investigations are welcome because it is most important that an adequate airstrip conveniently sited is in existence and operating by toe time toe Sunderlandis are withdrawn from service,” send Mir Ksrk. At this stage investigations of the site were of an engineering nature only, and there was no announced target date for the establishment of an aianrtnip, Mr Kirk saad.