No Early Consideration Of South Island Airport

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26629, 27 November 1947, Page 4

No Early Consideration Of South Island Airport

“The position in regard to the establishment of an international airport in New Zealand, other than in the Auckland area, is. a difficult one, because it will be appreciated that a large sum is involved in the development of a land aerodrome to meet the standards required of an international airport,” said the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Jones, in a statement made yesterday to the Daily Times.

“ The committee set up by the Government to consider aerodromes generally in New Zealand was asked to advise on the position in regard to international airports, but it is not expected that a report will be available for some considerable time, as it is felt that the development of internal services is of first importance when New Zealand is already reasonably well catered for with international services, although it is admitted that additional expense is involved in travelling from the South Island to Auckland.

“The question of inviting Mr Peter Masefield to visit New Zealand and advise the Government on matters relating to land and marine airports was considered some time ago,” Mr Jones said, “ and Mr Masefield advised that as he was desirous of returning to the United Kingdom as early as possible, he was sorry he did not have time to visit New Zealand, but in any case he added that he considered there were others who were more competent than himself to advise the Government on these particular matters. “ The problem is one of economics, and I am advised that all countries are endeavouring to limit the number of international airports to the minimum. For example, in the United States of America only four places are being

declared international airports—two on the east coast and two on the west coast. Canada is providing for one on the west coast, one on the east coast, and one near Montreal. Australia has declared as international airports only Sydney on the east coast, Darwin in the north, and, I understand, Perth on the west coast. The United Kingdom Government is restrictirig international services to three or four aerodromes, and, of course, the number of European and other nationalities operating regular services to the United Kingdom is infinitely greater than can ever be expected in New Zealand ” Mr Jones said that for these reasons no action had been taken to invite an expert from the United Kingdom to visit New Zealand to advise the New Zealand Government.