Runway extension gets support

Press, 3 April 1980, Page 4

Runway extension gets support

The Government should open Christchurch Airport to all operators to allow growth in air freight and an increase of tourists .in the city, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce council was told yesterday. Mr R. C. Dunn was commenting on a statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) that financing extensions to the airport runway would be unwise until authorised air carriers were willing to run long-haul services to and from Christchurch. “The city fathers • of Christchurch, in their great forward thinking, planned many years ago for an airport, and it has been one of the great success stories of the South Island,” Mr Dunn said. “We still have forward thinking, but a Minister of the Crown comes down here and tells, us to get of our backsides' and do something. “That is exactly what our City Council is doing,” said Mr Dunn. Christchurch had possibly the best airport in New Zealand and if the runway was extended, an .export , in' perishable foods could ■ increase the amount of the kiwifruit trade from the North Island. “We are told, there is no demand for a longer runway, no demand from overseas carriers,” Mr Dunn said. “Surely the challenge here

! is to the Government t< make it an open airport sc that anyone may use it the same as they do Lyttelton and then let the Governmeni stand by its word,” he said. Mr J. M. T. Greene said the airport would be used much more if it was made more accessible for charter flights. Mr H. A. L. Wily said it was more economic to spend $5 million on New Zealand’s safest airport, Christchurch, than spend $l5 million on Wellington’s “flight deck.” If the South Island was to expand, as suggested with the development of new energy-consuming industries, surely more people would want to come to it, said Mr Wily. Mr P. J. Donnelly said the Government wanted to avoid spending its half for the runway and $750,000 in extra navigational aids. The chamber’s council voted unanimously to give the City Council support in attempts to proceed with the runwav extension. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Anzac Day and Waitangi Day should stay the way they are, the .council decided. The Invercargill Chamber of Commerce is writing to other chambers asking for comment on alternative arrangements for the holidays. Having Waitangi Day on a Wednesday, as happened this year, is an interference!

(.with the work week, costs the country millions of doll > lars, and is . according to members of thj : Invercargill chamber. They suggested Waitangi ; Day could be either dropped or made a Monday puolid ! holiday each year, and that Anzac Day could also bs “Mondayised,” or observed on the nearest Sunday toj April 25. Mr C. L. Whitty said nek ther of the holidays should be interfered with, sined both were “part of our heritage.’’ Mr Donnelly suggested d change of the name Wait* angi Day back to New Zea« land Day, since the former had “racial overtones.” He said something should also be done with Anzac Day. "It is time we grew up ini this country and got away; from our nice little holi*. days,” Mr Donnelly said. He said Anzac Day as a mid-week holiday was “damaging the economy." There was no hope of the days disappearing from the calendar, although they! could be “put in a place/ which is less inconvenient.” “If we are going to play ; about with Anzac Day wq could make it the Thursdays before Easter and therefore minimise the disruption during April,” said Mr Wily. The council decided it! would tell the Invercargill' Chamber that it considered no change should be made.