CASE FOR AIRPORT IN SOUTH ISLAND

Grey River Argus, 10 April 1948, Page 5

CASE FOR AIRPORT IN SOUTH ISLAND

P.A. DUNEDIN. April 9 The following air report for consideration at the Dunedin conference has been prepared:— The immediate construction of an airport in the South Island, which conforms to international standards and its declaration as a terminal for all overseas aircraft, but more particularly those flying between Australia and New Zealand, is of vital importance to the development of this island and to New Zealand. The statement that traffic Austra-lia-New Zealand and vice-versa warrants only one such terminal cannot be sustained in the light of the present circumstances or by a glimpse into' the future. At the present time over 4000 people await a passage to New Zealand and a large number cannot get berths to Australia earlier than June. The growth of Australia’s population promises to be at a rate greater than could have been visualised by the individuals who advise Government on the question of traffic trends and the industrial development in New Zealand is demanding an accelerated rate of . population increase that will have the effect of ever improving the traffic figures. The present service, good though it is, has the effect of retarding the traffic flow as far as the South Island travellers are concerned, for only those who are compelled to travel will put up with the inconveniences and cost associated with tyre existing arrangement via Auckland, and it would be a revelation to the controlling authorities if they provided us with the service we require i.e. (the land based plane) Melbourne-South Island direct. If the Government is unable to provide such a service immediately, licenses should be granted to chartered planes. The modern machine has brought all parts of the planet into close association. Permanent air lanes already cover most of it. The craft used are already of a size in excess of our ’drome capacity, and almost all of them are land-based. The South Island abounds with suitable areas for construction of fields to take any aeroolane. and if they existed in the North Island, adjacent to the two main centres, there is little doubt that large sums of public money would have been spent on their development, but, as they do not exist, the Government should be pressed at once to provide at least one such field in the South Island. Quite apart from the commercial and social necessity for such an airport, the defence requirements of our country demand such a provision. The flying boat is rapidly being denuded of its value in war and it is vital to us that our flying men are conversant with modern designs, ana capable of flying them. The war of the future will make delay mean extinction, and the present, confused world situation makes war look more than a possibility. There is no room for argument for the merits of high speed. four-engined land planes, carrying huge passenger loads, when compared with the present flying-boat service. A united front should be presented by South Islanders now, and it should be left to experts not only ol flying machines, but of trade and traffic also, to determine the location of the field. The present committee set up by the Government to report on all airports, is composed entirely of individuals resident in the North Island, and, although empowered to take evidence, as yet no public sitting has been held. As six Ministers of the Crown and the Leader of the Opposition represent South Island constituencies, it surely should be a simple matter to arrange for presentation of evidence covering all aspects of the matter. “Now is the Hour.”