CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27396, 8 July 1954, Page 12

CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT

Support For Further Development

TASK SEEN FOR PROGRESS LEAGUE “The Christchurch airport has been described by overseas airways officials and airmen as one of the finest in the world, and we must see that the birthright of Christchurch is not taken away,” said the retiring president of the Canterbury Progress League (Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon) at the annual meeting of the league yesterday. ‘‘The league and local bodies must put their weight behind Harewood,” Mr Mac Gibbon said. ‘‘lt is the essential part of the air services of this. Dominion and of world links.” Discussing internal reading, Mr MacGibbon said that he was disappointed the Christchurch City Council had not gone ahead with its road scheme. ‘T believe that members of this league could have and still can help in asking that this scheme be expedited as soon as possible,” he said. “Very few cities could have transferred from rail to rubber as quickly as Christchurch has done in the change-over froiA trams to buses, but the roads are not prepared for rubber. For the sake of the city as well as the country, we should work to see that the roads arc adequately prepared.”

The Riccarton railway crossing and the need for an overhead bridge at Sockburn were matters that the league should take up, he said. Other projects of particular interest to the league were better harbour facilities, the tunnel road project, irrigation, and, in support of the North Canterbury Catchment Board, river control and soil conservation, Mir MacGibbon said. Tunnel Road and Rongotai Mr E. C. Bathurst asked for the league’s continued support of the tunnel road project, when he seconded the adoption of the annual report. ‘‘l feel we should also strongly support any effort to have the Rongotai airport finished for a feeder air service, now that we have services between Melbourne and Sydney and Harewood,” said Mr Bathurst. “It takes longer to go from Paraparaumu to Wellington by road than it does to fly from Harewood to Rongotai.” Any ffiove to make the Riccarton railway crossing safe should be supported by the league, Mr Bathurst said. The crossing could be a nightmare, even though there were warning lights, and was a danger particularly to country people driving at night. Better facilities for travellers at the Christchurch airport was another matter that should be considered by the league. “A year ago this league was accused of not tfoing enough work, but I think that those who criticised will change their minds as we go ahead,” Mr Bathurst said. ‘‘We are one big family working for the province of Canterbury and the city of Christchurch.” Financial Position The league’s balance-sheet showed a deficit of £155, Mr Mac Gibbon said. When the Ashburton County Council withdrew from thte league, a considerable loss had been sustained, but it was hoped that the council would reconsider its decision. It was necessary that the league should improve its financial position. Mr H. E. Radley suggested that the league should canvass business firms for funds to further its work.