Minister’s Comment On Harewood “Unfair”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30395, 20 March 1964, Page 16

Minister’s Comment On Harewood “Unfair”

Nobody in Christchurch had advocated a jet service into Christchurch airport before adequate navigational aids had been installed. It was untrue and unfair for the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine) to imply this, said the chairman of the City Council’s airport committee (Mr A. R. Guthrey). He was commenting on a statement by Mr McAlpine printed in “The Press” on Tuesday. “From the Minister’s attitude we can only assume that he does not want a jet service to operate into Christchurch before Mangere,” he said. "If this is the position he should say so, or else see that the instrument landing system equipment, already here, is installed and operating as soon as possible,” said Cr. Guthrey. He said that at its last meeting the City Council unanimously adopted his recommendation that I.L.S. equipment be installed before the start of a Qantas jet service.

“Qantas has stated its preparedness to operate a twiceweekly service from London through Europe, the Middle

East, India, and the Far East direct to Christchurch. The airline is most enthusiastic about bringing a jet service to the South Island,” said Cr. Guthrey. "This would generate additional tourist traffic and would benefit the Qantas-T.EA.L. partnership, which is already running short of Electra capacity. "In addition, under the partnership, TJLA.L. would get 60 per cent of the . revenue as well as bringing 50 additional tourists on each plane. “With two planes a week and an average spending of £5O by each tourist this would add £5OOO a week of valuable overseas currency.” Cr. Guthrey said this proposition should give added incentive to those planning hotel and motel extensions and accommodation facilities. Cr. Guthrey said the Ministry of Works was co-oper-ating to the fullest possible extent in the building to house the IX.S. equipment “They are ready, willing and able to push ahead immediately with it” he said. The only problem which remained now was to get the trained technical staff here to train new tedmidans.