AVIATION AND DEFENCE i

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1923, Page 7

AVIATION AND DEFENCE i

AUCKLAND SEAPLANE BASE. HIGHER SUBSIDY WANTED. DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. rfiy Telegraph.—Parliamentary Ueporter.> WELLINGTON*, this day. Mr. Massey's attitude towards aviation at Auckland, expressed to-day to a i deputation introduced by Mr. W, J. Jordan (Manukau) caused a sense of disappoitment to some of thsoe present. All shades of political opinion were reprev nted. Mr. l.co Walsh explained that liis seaplam , business had been losing £2.">00 per annum for some time, and he could not carry on without an increase in the present subsidy | of £1500. which -was a very small amount for an industry important from j defence, commercial and scientific points j of view. ! Mr. Massey: We have to look at it 1 from the point of view of defence. | Mr. Walsh: Solely? Mr. Massey: Principally. " , Mr. Walsh: Even from that one view- i point I submit the one and only important seaplane station is entitled to I something to enable it to keep its head above water. He pointed out that of 71 air force reserve officers only three ; were qualified seaplane pilots. He thought a certain number might be trained on seaplanes. If Auckland had ' twenty it would provide useful work. Mr Walsh added that his lease had expired and if the property changed hands he might be given notice to quit. He understood that the Tamaki site was suitable from a defence point of view, ' and he urged the Government to take Bteps to ensure the continuity of the operations of the company, either in connection with the- Tamaki site or the , present position. | Mr. Massey: Supposing a site at one • of the northern ports was selected, I am not suggesting any port, because this matter should not be discussed publicly. Mr. Walsh: In that case it would evolve almost entirely into a question of defence, and the civil aspect would not appear because a seaplane base in a northern port would not be able to \ carry out civil aviation. I Mr. Massey: What have you in mind ' by civil aviation? Al,r. Walsh: Transport of business men and use of aircraft by doctors in : urgent cases. ' Sir E. H. Rhodes (Minister of Defence) : That is only an odd job; you cannot depend on that as a source of revenue. i Mr. Walsh: No, but we -want to par- ! ticipate in the world-wide development of aviation. We ask the Government to preserve continuity, and not drop Auckland out and take it up two or three years hence. Although we may not have done much, we have been educating the public in the value of aviation. Sir K. H. Rhodes: I received a telegram yesterday about another site 20 miles from Auckland. Mr. Walsh: In tlie event of the Government deciding on a site outside Auckland, the company would like to dispose of its business because we could not deal in civil aviation. We must be near the city. Sir R. H. Rhodes: If you got the sub-sidy-you are asking could you reduce the liabilities. > Mr. Walsh: No, we ask a subsidy not ' exceeding £3000 a year. I Sir R. H. Rhodes: You said £4600. j Mr. Walsh: That includes payment j for training 20 officers. Sir R. H. Rhodes: I am pointing out ' what you are asking. Mr. Walsh: It ia a very small sum. ; Mr. Massey: You would not think so ' if you had to find all these small sums. The matter has got to be looked at from the point of view of defence. Personally I am not certain that for a number of years aviation is going to be of any ! benefit in New Zealand for civil purposes, .aviation must form an important part in the defence of any country. We have got to be guided by the opinion of experts and must take the opinion of experts as to the proper site for an aviation camp. Whether it will be Auck- ! land or one of the other places in the j Auckland district I am not able to cay. We have not got to that stage yet, but it has got to be settled and in the very near future, and altogether apart from sentiment it is what ia best from the point of view of the defence of the country and the Empire in case of war which may not be in our time, but we have to look ahead. It is no use expending money to any extent, because by doing so it may be wasted. It is the business of the Defence Department to get particulars and have thie settled up in the \ very near future. At present we have just as much business as we can handle. The business of the session is occupying my full attention, and I cannot take inything more on at present. Sir R. H. Rhodes: After the Imperial j Conference you will have a greater knowledge of how far seaplanes have to work in conjunction with the Admiralty. Mr. Massey: Yes, it has got to be decided whether aeroplanes or seaplanes are better. I hope to get that informa-1 tion in England if I get there. Mr. Walsh: Do I understand you would not consider favourablj a request for an increased subsidy? We arc not asking anything very great. The reasonableness of the request is manifest. Have we to wait your return from the Conference? Mr. Massey: I cannot help that. You are asking £5000 a year. Mr. Walsh: You axe getting the benefit of it. Mr. Massey: That is a matter I am not going to discuss at present. Mr. Walsh: There is, roughly, £20,000 devoted to aviation, and nothing appears for Auckland concerns. Mr. Massey: "Do you mean to say that little concern in Christehurch would cost £20,000 a year. It is worth a gTeat deal more than it cost the Government, but I am not sure the cite is suitable." Tlie 'Premier added that he was getting reports on aviation as soon as possible. Mr. Jordan said that all the Auckland members were keenly interested, and would regret very much if thi»y lost the aviation service in the Auckland district. Mr. Massey: That is not what I have to consider. I am guided by what is consglered beet for the country and the Empire. lam not going to allow politics . to 'be mixed up with this thing. I cannot allow political influence. Mr. Jordan repudiated the suggestion of political influence, and urged help from an educational and commercial point of i view, adding that an aviation school in Auckland would be as good as a defence unit. Mr. J. A. Young (Hamilton) said that the Government must be guided by experts. ~ " j Mr. Massey: That is my view. j It was expected that Mr. J. H. Gunson (Mayor) and Mr. H. R. Mackenzie (chairman of the Harbour Board) would be with the deputation, but neither was present. i