Need For South Island Air Terminal Stressed

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 August 1947, Page 9

Need For South Island Air Terminal Stressed

The need for expert investiga-' tions to be made of the aerodromes proposed as a South Island terminal to a new transTasman air service, before any one was condemned, was stressed by speakers at a meeting of the excutive of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association at Greymouth yesterday. Members reiterated their endorsement of Invercargill as first choice for the site of the terminal, and indicated that should expert opinion be against this site, Harewood would probably find favour.

“Doubt exists in a good many minds as to the opinion, of the association on the site of the Tasman air terminal in the South Island and this position should be clarified." said Mr D. C. Cameron (Mayor of Dunedin), opening the discussion. In Christchurch, he explained, some support had been offered for the selection of Harewood as the terminal, though The Christchurch members of the association had remained loyal to the decision supporting Invercargill. The association, he contended, should reaffirrh this decision, and he moved that, providing there were no technical objections to Invercargill, it should be duly considered as the air terminal for the South Island, and that a request be made that the final decision should not be reached by the authorities until Invercargill had been fully surveyed and explored and the details made public. Being Side-stepped

“I think we are being side-stepped by businessmen in Christchurch,” said Mr Cameron.. “I do not mind where this terminal is, providing that all sites are fully investigated. I do hot think that is being done. There were two columns in a newspaper the other day about why Harewdod is not suitable and saying what should be done to make it suitable. I want to see the same done down in Invercargill. This site may not be suitable, but the South Island must ge< a fair deal. If Invercargill is suitable technically, it should receive consideration. If Invercargill is turned down finally, Harewood or

somewhere else tvill have to be chosen.”

Mr Cameron went bh to say that it was considered in some quarters that the development of Harewood could be carried out more rapidly than at Invercargill and the service to the South Island quickly started. ' Mr N. Sim (Invercargill), seconding the motion, said that the logical site should depend on the geography of the country, and this was Invercargill’s strongest claim. Dr Jobberns said that he considered Mr Cameron had expressed the problem, hiost teinperately, but he considered that a great deal more required to be done before the South Island got a terinihal at all. “I think my feeling—of deep frustration—is shared by other members and brought about because the stateihehts oh the position emanating from tile authorities do not brihg..the terminal any nearer,” he said. “Some of the objections against the . use >of Harewood are without foundation for . a start. The grievance of the South island is that to get out of the country one has to travel 700 niiles to Auckland. Both Inyefcafgll arid Harewood should be thoroughly investigated as sites, he concluded. “I will support Mr Cameron if he includes in his motion that expert reports also be made on other terminal sites,” said Mr A. E ,S. Hanan (Mayor cl' Timaru), who referred to the potentialities of the Levels site.

Mr Cameron agreed to include Mr Hanan’s suggestion in the motion. - “We are beating the air a bit,” said Mr J. N. Clarke, of Chirstchurch, who added that Sir Leonard Isitt had told him that every site would be thoroughly investigated. “We must take it that that will eventually happen.” “An investigation by whom?” asked Mr Cameron. Trouble with Government

“We are having trouble to get the Government to recognise the need for a terminal in the South Island at all,” said the chairman, Mr E. H. Andrews, Mayor of Christchurch, commenting on the position. “We will be fortunate if we get them to. Obstacles are being put in our path and to get anywhere there will have to be unity. Side issues are being brought in. What I want to see is an overseas expert’s report on the sites, and an expert is expected in the country soon.

“The trouble wilfbe to get the Government to agree to that. I have struggled and struggled to see the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) on this question, but without success. I am, however, determined to discuss it with him. Dissension among ourselves will wreck the possibility of our getting a terminal at all. “South Island Ministers do not seem to be aware of the position,” he continued. “They tell us it can’t be done —practically saying it won’t be done. Yet an Australian company is prepared to send planes to the South Island as soon as we say the word. They are prepared to make two daily trips to Christchurch [or £lO less than the trip from Auckland. It does not matter if we tell the Government these things. We are just side-stepped. We have to battle for this tormina] or we will never get it.” i Mr Kilchingham’s Amendment After a brief comment on the situation, Mr F. A. Kitchingham, Mayor of Greymouth, moved an amendment that the executive again, urge on the Government the neces-

sity to establish an air terminal in the South Island, and that expert attention be given without delay to the selection of a site. “I do want to see a terminal in this island to get oyer the stupid state of affairs making us travel 700 miles before' we can begin a journey out of the Dominion.” W ; “The amendment does not mention any particular place,”, said Mr Shafnian (Nelson), seconding .the motion. ™ . ..

“It is a toss-ujj between Invercargill and Harewbod,” said Mr Cameron, “and we want an expert to tejl us why we can’t have Invercargill, if indeed we cannot.” On Mr Kitchingham’s amendment being put to a vote, it received six. votes to four against (Messrs D. J. Cockburn, N. Sim. Cameron and Hanan), and, as the motion, ' was carried unanimously. “Now we have gone back on the decision the conference reached three years ago. We refused to reaffirm that decision.” said Mr Cameron. “We as an executive have no power,” said the chairman. “We are only telling the Government, io get busy. We are certainly not excluding Invercargill as., the. siie.”