OPTIMISTIC VIEW

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21822, 27 November 1940, Page 4

OPTIMISTIC VIEW

Timaru Airport As Training Centre Requests To Ministers Council Considers Replies An optimistic view of the replies made by the Hon. F. Jones, Minister of Defence, and the Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, to the representations for the early use of the Timaru Airport as a training centre was taken by members of the Timaru Borough Council last night, when a letter from Mr Semple was read to the meeting, and Cr. W. IL Hall reported on his interview with Mr Jones in Wellington. “I consider that the attitude of the Ministers is very encouraging,” stated the Mayor (Mr W. G. Tweedy) at the conclusion of a discussion in which Cr M. H. Richards urged that more determined steps should be taken to induce the Government to act. “We can’t expect to force the Ministers beyond a certain point—they act on the direction of technical advisers. If nothing happens as a result of these representations, neither I nor the Council have the slightest intention of letting the matter stand there. We cannot force the Ministers to a decision. We have got to wait to see what the decision is, and if it is not satisfactory, we will then decide what to do.” Replying in a letter to the Rev. Clyde Carr, M.P.. to representations made to him by the Borough Council during his recent visit to Timaru, Mr Semple said he had discussed the matter with the Minister of Defence, who informed him that the substance of the representations had already come before his notice on previous occasions since the outbreak of war. He 'Was informed that the desire of the Timaru Borough Council to place Timaru on the map was fully appreciated, but the policy of the Government in regard to the establishment of Royal New Zealand Air Force stations had at all times been the result of very careful consideration. There were at present four stations in the South Island, namely at Taieri, Harewood, Wigram and Blenheim. It could be stated definitely that parochial considerations had not influenced the Government in the slightest degree in the implementation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force expansion programme. The Minister of Defence added that it was not meant to infer that Timaru would not be a suitable location for a station and, in the event of further training establishments being required in the South Island, Timaru’s claims would certainly have to receive further consideration. Mr Semple added that he understood that new stations were being located at Blenheim and Nelson, but they were “operational” and not training stations and geographical factors were the main consideration as the requirements of the remainder of the South Island were considered to be adequately covered by Air Force stations at Christchurch and Dunedin. Grave Disquiet Cr. Hall reported that he interviewed the Minister of Defence in Wellington on Wednesday and told him much the same story as they put up to Mr Semple previously, and in addition pointed out there was grave disquiet amongst the people in this district over the unprotected state of the three and possibly four freezing works adjacent to Timaru, to say nothing of the four flofir mills, the Waitaki Electric Works and distributing station; that the South Island main trunk railway hugged the coast line and could be easily dislocated by destruction of important bridges by a hit and run raider. “We felt that making Timaru a training centre would not only be the means of protecting all these most valuable industries, so vital to the economic life of New Zealand, but on account of the splendid climate in Timaru, the men trained here would have the opportunity to get in more training, not suffering loss of time through bad weather,” Cr. Hall continued. The Minister said that training centres were very costly to instal and maintain. The hangars, repair and servicing shops and living quarters necessary ran into large sums, and he did not want to have more than needed, and so far his advisers had not thought it necessary to include Timaru. Air Force Expanding “I pointed out that the Air Force was expanding,” said Cr. Hall, “and that it appeared to me that it was the Navy and Air Force that were going to pull us out of trouble in this war. So that nothing should stand in the way of further expansion the Timaru Borough Council were offering their airport, but if his advisers still were against Timaru being made a full training school then we should ask that it be made an operational airport similar to Nelson and Blenheim. I pointed out the central position of Timaru made it an ideal site for long range bombers to patrol the coastal waters from, and also to be an adequate protection to the important industries and assets, veritable life lines in the present circumstances, and so difficult to replace under war conditions. “Tire Minister said that I had made out a very good case indeed,” Cr. Hall said, “but that he was guided by his experts and that he would go into the matter once more and fully discuss all the points I had made with them. The question of runways he would also discuss with them, and if required he would take the matter up with the Minister of Public Works. Minister gave me a very courteous hearing, and I am sure we will get consideration of our requests.” The Mayor thanked Cr. Hall for his report and congratulated him on the manner in which he had presented the case for tire Council. “Now that we have the goodwill of the Minister of Public Works and of the Minister of Defence it is to be hoped that the representations will have some effect,” he added. Prospects Not Favourable Cr. M. H. Richards claimed that the prospects for the early use of the airport were not as favourable as had been stated. He had, he said, recently visited the ground and could see no appearance of grass sown in any part. “I think that if the use of the airport has got to be held up until the grass has grown, we won’t be on there for the next few years,” he said “I think we should do something to induce the Government to get on with the airport.” Continuing Cr. Richards said that the report given by Cr. Hall was not so very encouraging and the Council should get something more concrete from the Ministers. He urged that the Council should take steps to force the Government to hasten action in utilising the airport. “I do not take the same pessimistic view as Cr. Richards,” said Cr. H. J. Mathers. “The Minister of Defence

evidently recognises the position of Timaru and I am very hopeful that some steps may be taken about it.” He went on to say that there was ample roern on the good grass at the airport at the present time for the biggest ’planes likely to be used in New Zealand. He felt rather optimistic that something would be done to put ’planes at Timaru as soon as they were available. It was not reasonable to expect to see grass on the airport until at least a fortnight after the rain, said Cr. Hall. Since the sowing of the grass had been carried out a series of nor’westers had been experienced, and grass would not grow under those conditions. The Mayor agreed with the statement that the attitude of the Ministers was encouraging, and expressed the hope that some tangible response would result.