[?] bigger airport

[?]tart likely soon [?] bigger airport [?]r Rarotonga

The much-talked-about plan extend and upgrade Raro nga’s airstrip to take Air New :aland Electra aircraft may he

me a reality soon.

IRIS follows what a Rarotonga correspondent describes as “out ndingly successful talks” between New Zealand Government delega n and the Cook Islands Govern ;nt in Rarotonga in mid-March.

The talks covered the possibility upgrading Rarotonga Airport to :e Air New Zealand Electras on proposed Auckland-Fiji-American moa-Rarotonga route and possible ;ure jet services.

The New Zealand delegation was I by the Minister of Island Terri ies, Mr. J. R. Hanan, and the inister of Civil Aviation, Mr. P. irdon.

Capital contribution

Mr. Gordon was reported as say -1 before leaving New Zealand that, return for a considerable capital ntribution from his Government upgrade Rarotonga airport, the vernment wanted to ensure that ;w Zealand interests in landing ;hts and in the airstrip itself were equately protected.

“Since the upgrading of the air id will involve a need for ad ional land for site clearances, and ice the question of orientation ly be raised, I am going as inister of Civil Aviation to satisfy j islanders of the need for this,” r. Gordon added.

Mr. Hanan told the Press: “The rpose of our mission is to discuss th representatives of the Cook ands Government the extension of 2 airport and the consequent land quisition problems.”

At present, the airport is 500 ft o short for Electras.

The Cook Islands Minister of ternal Affairs, Mr. T. Henry, said had hopes that cheap accom odation could bring holidays there ithin the reach of the average New ;alander.