FOSTERING AVIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 102, 2 May 1929, Page 11

FOSTERING AVIATION.

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE. IMPORTANCE IN DEFENCE. PLAIN" TALK TO AERO CLUB. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON", Wednesday. A preliminary announcement with respect to the" Government's aviation policy was made by the Minister of Defence, Hon. T. M. Wilford, to-day. In answering an inquiry as to what was the attitude of, the Government the aero clubs of New Zealand, the Minister said: — "When the policy of the Government is settled it will be announced by the Prime Minister, but before it is announced it will be my duty to see how many clubs are essential and what' are their requirements. It is useless for any set of enthusiasts to start out to run an aero club unless they can see a certain £3000 a year in hand for the running of the dub. .No club can be run under that figure; that is after it 5 has the ground, the hangars and the machines." The Minister added that since his assumption of the portfolio of Defence he J*sd given a series of lecturettes on aviation at various places from Auckland to the Bluff. "To every body of men Interested I have approached," Mr. Wilford said, "I have submitted a question for their earnest and considered thought. It is this '"If war were declared to-morrow our cruisers would go to the Near East naval base and be under the one naval command. Our defence would consist of suns in fixed positions and land forces. If one.armed merchantman belonging to the enemy arrived 150 miles off the coast with a mother ship carrying 10 or 12 aeroplanes equipped with gas and bombs for the destruction of our cities, what is our defence ?'"