Nausori Or Nadi ?

Fiji Residents Sharply Divided on Proposed Aerodrome Site

SUVA, June 20.

BITTER controversy, confined mainly to Suva and Lautoka, is literally raging here as to where the international airport should be. The prin- Cipel protagonist is Mr. C. A. Adams, of Lautoka, energetic businessman and the cha rman of his Town Board. Complete with a vigorous Lautoka and Nadi chorus he is not unnaturally urging that the present Nadi aerodrome “is the best and safest in the Pacific.”

The Suva Chamber of Commerce (who would find it hard to agree with Mr.

Adams “that the Nausori site, even if a huge sum is spent on it, will still be dangerous for several months of the year”), started the ball rolling when they recently sent a deputation to the Govern ment, led by Mr. Clive Brewster, who was recently a Wing Commander in the RA AF. The Chamber’s choice was Nausori.

The reason for this delightful furore

is no doubt that Suva businessmen want through-air-passengers to spend their money in Suva, while Lautoka traders, with just as shrewd an eye to the im portance of turnover, would prefer to make such sales themselves.

There have been letters printed in the local paper (from Lautoka), letters re ceived by the local paper but not pub lished (from Lautoka), a protest meet ing which 200 to 250 attended (at Lautoka), and a circular to Suva resi dents —also from Lautoka.

The issue is clearly of considerable im portance and it is good that such public interest has been shown. But while the debate proceeds, and remarkable and parochial claims are made for each site, the decision is being made elsewhere than in Fiji.

Meanwhile almost all planes continue to touch down at Nausori

Editorial Note

THE reasons why Nausori, rather than Nadi, should be used as Fiji’s chief aerodrome are best illustrated by our photograph. Nadi is 71 miles from Suva, the capital, by air and well over 100 by road. Nausori is 10 miles airline from Suva and 16 by road.

However divided local Fiji opinion is on the issue, it still remains a sound principle of aerial transportation that aerodromes must be as close as possible to the centre of population—in this case, Suva.

Therefore, if it is at all possible to bring Nausori field up to commercial aviation standard this should be done.

While Lautoka-Nadi citizens denounce Nausori because of its situation in the wet zone, or because of its proximity to the Rewa River: and Suva-Nausori citi zens suddenly throw formidable moun tain ranges in Nadi’s teeth, it is, as our correspondent points out. worth noting that the international airline operators (PAA and ANA) continue to use Nausori.

In the opinion of both airline com panies, Nausori. with certain improve ments. is the onlv satisfactory Fiji stag ing point on the trans-Pacific run.

The attractions of Viti Levu’s dry zone —pineapple canning works, the sugar in dustry. the Vatukuola mines. Lautoka township—all of which were cited by one patriotic Lautoka citizen in defence of Nadi, are not overstated. But the type of traveller who usually patronises interna tional airlines is primarily interested in only two things: (a) getting quickly to the centre of affairs; and (b) his (or her) own bodily comfort. Nausori, with Suva close by, is much more able than Nadi to supply these essentials.

The decision, at all events, has not yet been made. When it is, doubtless the Fiji Government will have been guided by experts who can be expected to see the choice of drome as a practical prob lem of international transportation, and not as one of purely local commercial rivalrv.

It is believed that the New Zealand Public Works Department will be respon sible for maintenance of Fiji’s airport and that the cost will be borne equally with Great Britain, Australia and Canada.

It is reported also that the New Zea land PWD favours Nausori.

Photos show (Top): Nausori aerodrome, situated alongside the Rewa River. (Centre): An aerial view of Suva; Government offices centre foreground. (Lower): Nadi aerodrome on the North-west Coast. —Photo by Whites Aviation, Ltd.