Use of Harewood as International Airport

Grey River Argus, 20 December 1948, Page 3

Use of Harewood as International Airport

DUNEDIN, Dec. 17. The opinion that the Harewood airport could.be brought up to international standards was expressed by the Minister in charge of the Air Department, the Hon. F. Jones, when he met. a deputation from the Otago Air Development Committee. The leader of the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Mission (Sir Frederick Tymms) had said that Harewood was suitable for an internationa aerodrome and no one could dispute that. However, the question arose whether the Wigram services’ aerodrome should be abandoned eventually on the score that it was too close to I-larewood. If the new Solent flying-boats were operating on the trans-Tasman service next year, and there were two intercolonial passenger ships running the demand for passages by air and by sea would have to be considered in relation to an international aerodrome at Harewood. If there were a greater demand for air travel, and the Sclents could not cope with the demand, greater provision for air travel would have to be made. The Minister said that it would be wrong for him to forecast what would take place. Provinces than Canterbury wanted international aerodromes, but the Tymms report favoured Harewood. Mr Jones commented that the Government had done a wise thing in having Sir Frederick Tymms visit Now Zealand to inspect the aerodromes and make a report. The Royal Commission which was once proposed would have done nothing but revive former difficulties. The Tymms report had certainly settled a number of suggestions made lor aerodromes in Otago, and he was glad to have that information.