Antarctic Open Day

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33065, 4 November 1972, Page 14

Antarctic Open Day

Sir, —Unlike “Law-abiding N.Z. Citizen,” who could not get a reply to his questions about the incident at the Antarctic Open Day, I will pose several questions to Mr Jamieson without recourse to anonymity. My questions are basically the same as those rejected. What action will be taken by the police against the man who was escorted from the display area? Does the navy in question (whose officials kept a “close watch” on the two men) own or lease the property where the display was held? Were these navy officials co-opted by the Airport Authority or the police to assist in maintaining law and order? Was this the New Zealand Navy or a foreign

navy? Were the two men (whose activities were kept under such close surveillance by the “navy officials”) citizens of New Zealand? If Mr Jamieson is still reluctant to reply, could the local police superintendent provide the answers? — Yours, etc., B. W. HALL. October 30, 1972.

[Mr A. I. R. Jamieson, general manager of the Airport Authority, replies: “(1) The Christchurch City Council owns and operates Christchurch International Airport, and Airport By-law 207 states:— ‘No person shall at the aerodrome post, distribute, or display signs, posters, placards, handbills, advertisements, circulars, pictures, or devices for advertising except with the written approval of the council or the aerodrome management, first obtained, and in conformity with the terms of any such approval.’ Contravention of this by-law can result in the person concerned being asked to leave the airport. (2) The action to so do was initiated by the Airport Authority. (3) To my knowledge, no naval officer, New Zealand or otherwise, kept a close watch on the person concerned. (4) Yes, the United States Navy does lease and pay for workshop, hangar, and storage space in the area in question.”]