Wellington Airport’s Future Discussed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31760, 17 August 1968, Page 14

Wellington Airport’s Future Discussed

CN.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 16. The Wellington City Council told the Government today that Wellington Airport should be developed solely for internal services —and that it could never be developed as a satisfactory trans-Tasman jet airport. A four-man City Council deputation, led by the Mayor (Sir Francis Kitts) met the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr Gordon) and the Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) this afternoon. The Prime Minister said in a statement this evening: “The deputation members have firmly said that their technical advice convinced them that Wellington Airport should be developed solely for internal services, and that it could never be developed as a satisfactory trans-Tasman jet airport. “That attitude could not be changed unless further technical information proved it incorrect,” he said. Mr Hoiyoake said that the Government and the Wellington City Council agreed they were partners in the project —and any information avail-

able to one partner should be made known to the other. “Decisions already made stand for the present, but it was agreed that the future development of the airport should be considered urgently by the Government in the light of all the information now available to both parties,” he said. He was positive that any previous heat the issue had created had now been effectively cooled. The Government bad agreed to study the deputation’s submissions concerning the future of Wellington Airport “as a matter of urgency.”