MANGERE TERMINAL DESIGN ‘Dept. Not Responsible ’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31085, 14 June 1966, Page 1

MANGERE TERMINAL DESIGN ‘Dept. Not Responsible ’

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 13. The Civil Aviation Department was not responsible for the architectural design of the permanent terminal building at Auckland Airport, the secretary for Civil Aviation (Mr B. R. Rae) said today.

Last week the Auckland Regional Authority, after receiving a letter from the Minister of Civil Aviation (Mr McAlpine), decided to ask the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) to transfer responsibility for the design of the building to it from the Civil Aviation Department. Mr McAlpine’s letter said the £lm building could not be completed until 1971, two years later than promised. Mr Rae said the department had never claimed competence in the field of architecture.

The design of the building was the responsibility of the Government Archite<*t, who had given a senior architect sole responsibility to deal with it, said Mr Rae. The department was responsible for the functional aspects of the whole complex and its work had been passed to the Government Architect for final sketch plans. Mr Rae said the work had

been done by a committee on which the airlines, the Ministry of Works and the Auckland Regional Authority were represented. The general manager of the Authority was informed by letter that the committee had reached agreement on June 3, some time before the meeting on Friday night which criticised the department, said Mr Rae.