Airport. Reception

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 16

Airport. Reception

Sir, —Yesterday, my first day up after an illness, I flew from Auckland to Christchurch. I had five heavy bags. There are no porters at either place, but at Auckland my son was able to help me with luggage, settle tickets, overweight bags, etc. For at least

20 minutes his car was outside the terminal building and from the authorities he had a courteous request to shift it just before I left. In Christchurch, I was met by my son-in-law, who is recovering from a back injury. He parked for 30 minutes in the assigned area. When my bags arrived he bought the car over, getting as close as possible for obvious reasons. The airport was not busy and the car was not obstructing anyone. While we loaded the bags (not more than two minutes) a traffic officer ordered him off the area, refused to help in any way, and threatened him with a ticket. What a reception!— Yours, etc., GREAT GRANDMOTHER.

October 6, 1966. [The manager of Christchurch international airport (Mr A. I. R. Jamieson) replies: “The car in question was parked over a ‘Keep Clear’ sign in the coach-load-ing bay. Reasonable space is allocated to the private motorist near the baggage claim for set-down and pickup purposes, and if any assistance is required in the loading of baggage this can be readily obtained upon request.”]