South Island Claim For Air Link With Australia

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 June 1948, Page 2

South Island Claim For Air Link With Australia

(P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “I hope the scheme is only of a makeshift nature while flying-boats .are available. The scheme does not lessen the demand for an airport here,” said the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), commenting on the possibility of a new Tasman air service being established between Sydney and Wellington. It was the general opinion that flying-boats were practically out of date and eventually the demand would be for a land port, said Mr Andrews. “They are possibly putting on flying-boats to assist the transport situation. Any such action, though, will not cause us to lessen our demands for the establishment of a land port at Harewood,” Mr Andrews said. “It has come as rather a shock to learn from Auckland that a new trans-Tasman air service between Wellington and Sydney is being planned for flying-boats,” said Mr E. C. Bathurst, Mayor of Ashburton, and borough member of the Overseas Air Terminal Committee at Christchurch. The information could be construed as recognition that the Auckland service was not satisfactory from the Wellington and South Island point of view, he added. “The great necessity for a direct link between the southern centres and Australia is admitted, but my observations lead to the belief that more us'e will be made of land aeroplanes than flying-boats in the future,” said Mr Bathurst. “While. Wellington would be a good terminal for flying-boats for the central parts of New Zealand, we should intensify our efforts to obtain an early announcement from the authorities on tho establishment of a trans-Tasman terminal in the South Island to meet the ever-increasing need for a direct link, with Australia. “I would urge that increased support be given the Overseas Air Terminal Committee. The committee has information that a through freight service would make considerable use of Harewood. This has been promised, although its start has been delayed,” he added. “In the event of approval by the New. Zealand and Australian Governments no difficulties will arise in the operation of either charter or regular services between Melbourne and Christchurch,” he added. PLANS FORNEW BASE AT EVANS BAY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 7. Plans for the Wellington-Sydney air service were being given detailed consideration, said Sir Leonard Isitt, a director of Tasman Empire Airways, in a telephone interview from Auckland. Sir Leonard Isitt could not say when the base at Evans Bay was likely to be finished. Plans had not yet been discussed with the Govern- ’ ment and, consequently, he had to be vague about the establishment of the base. Even after the. proposal was given the approval hoped for, some time would elapse before the necessary materials and staff could be assembled and everything put into running order. “We have been trying for several years to get Evans Bay included as - a port of caff for overseas air services, but we have not pressed for the establishment of a full base there,” said Mr W. H. Price, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, expressing the board’s delight at the announcement. He added that such a base would mean a staff of about <BO and substantial repair depots and other buildings. There did not seem to be anything against making Evans Bay a regular port of call.