AIRFIELDS IN DOMINION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21755, 3 July 1945, Page 4

AIRFIELDS IN DOMINION

RELEASE OF SOME SOON

MR. SEMPLE’S STATEMENT (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 2. “It is quite likely that some airfields will be released by the defence authorities at an early date,” said the Minister for Works, the Hon. R. Semple, in New Plymouth last night. “I cannot say whether the T?ell Block aerodrome at New Plymouth will be one of them.”

The question was put to Mr. Semple by a reporter on account of a rumour that the New Plymouth Airport Board would soon have returned to it the airport that had been taken over by the Air Department at the outbreak of the war.

“It is certain.” said Mr. Semple, “that some of the airfields that are now in occupation by the air force will be released earlier than expected. In some instances air force personnel are to be transferred to other stations and some of the personnel are to be released. It is obvious that all stations will not be required, and some of them are likely to be returned to the authorities that controlled them before they were taken over. I cannot say which they will be, or whether the New Plymouth aerodrome will be one of them, but it is likely it may be.”