OVERSEAS TERMINAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 228, 25 August 1945, Page 6

OVERSEAS TERMINAL

LOCATION STILL UNDECIDED. (Press Assn.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 25

Tiie Minister in Uliarge of Civil Aviation tittr Jones) today stated that, as a. result ot tne action taken by certain local bodies to enlist support lor their claims tor the location ot overseas air terminals in their respective districts, bis office had been ii:undaied with correspondence lorwardmg resolutions passed by local authorities throughout the Dominion in support of one or other of tiiese claims. Although it was encouraging to note the interest being taken by local bodies and various other organisations in the development oi the overseas air services, Mr Jones indicated that no amount of enthusiasm would be permitted to cloud the essential issues, which were primarily technical and economic.

I "There is as yet no certainty of I the number of international services j which will include New Zealand as a i port of call," said the Minister, "and |it is most unlikely that any of the main international services will call at more than one point in New Zea land, particularly in view of New Zealand's location in relation to the world air routes. Further, the minimum standards to be adopted for aerodromes serving the international air services have yet to he precisely determined by the International Civil I Aviation Organisation. "The position in New Zealand is ■that there is a fully-equipped seaplane base at Mechanics Bay, Auckland, and land plane aerodromes at both Whenunpai and Ohakea developed for war purposes, which will be adequate to provide for the international air ■ services until such time as the ultimate minimum standards for overseas air terminals are determined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and the Government has decided that these facilities will be used in the meantime.

"Although the technical officers of the department have continually under review progress towards the development of minimum international standards for overseas air terminals, their primary consideration at the present is directed towards ensuring that aerodromes on the internal air services are developed to a standard necessary to permit the devolonmont of the most efficient system of internal air services using modern aircraft. This .system of internal air services will facilitate the internal distribution of overseas air traffic, irrespective of where the overseas air terminal is ultimately located," concluded Mr Jones.