Harewood Claims Being Pressed

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1948, Page 7

Harewood Claims Being Pressed

CHRISTCHURCH, Oct 8.

A warning that “the battle was not nearly won," for the recognition of Harewood aerodrome as an international air terminal was given by Mr J. R. Dench at last evening’s meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Mr Dench said that, in Sir Frederick Tymms and other members of the mission which was at present investigating airport facilities in the Dominion, New Zealand had men of statesmen’s calibre and of a proper outlook for their task. A good deal had been said recently about Harewood, and everybody seemed to be feeling very comfortable. However, it was one’ thing for any committee to make a decision and give a majority report; and another thing for the report to be put into action "We should be very very guarded about the statements issued,” continued Mr Dench. "Sir Frederick Tymms <md his mission are honest of purpose and are geninuely concerned with their task. But we have to study the attitude of the Government to Harewood all along.” Mr Dench then outlined stages in the agitation to have Harewood declared an international airport. Within a few minutes of the Petitions Committee reporting on the petition about Harewood, the matter was hustled into the House of Representatives and there talked out, he said. The Harewood Overseas Air Terminal Committee (of which Mr Dench is chairman) had made repeated attempts to secure a hearing from the Government. On one occasion, the attempt had been frustrated when the matter was referred to the ‘Government’s Aerodrome Committee. Later the Minister in charge of Air Department, Hon F. Jones, had said he hoped the results of the committees investigation would be available in two months. That was six to eight months - ago. The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. P. Fraser had promised the Air Terminal Committee a hearing after his sessional business was over, but nothing was heard from him and he was now overseas. Different statements had been made by the Government at different times. The extension of Harewood was about the cheapest and most satisfying job any Government could do, yet Mr Jones had said, at Dunedin, that it would be a very expensive job. There was a vote in thee Estimates of £38,000 for improving Harewood, continued Mr Dench. The greatest merit of Harewood, to his mind, was that it was owned by the municipality of Christchurch, which had shown such a pioneering spirit in its development. Half-hearted promises were not wanted; what they wanted was the job done. Mr Dench said his committee intended to see the matter through. It would be wrong to take too optimistic a view. They would have, he thought, a very favourable report on Harewood from Sir Frederick Tymms but there was still a long way to go with the Goernment.

Replying to a question, Mr Dench said he took it that the £38,000 was put on the Estimates to assist the Christchurch City Council in the purchase of land at Harewood, but not necessarily to secure the aerodrome as an international airport.