AVIATION IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 136, 10 June 1936, Page 20

AVIATION IN N.Z.

TRUNK SERVICE DEFECTS.

MORE PILOTS NEEDED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAWERA, Tuesday. Comment upon two adjects of aviation in New Zealand was made by Mr. W. G. Walkley, formerly secretary tc the Hawera Aero Club, at a farewell tendered liim by the club yesterday, before his departure for Sydney. He criticised the restrictions placed on the Dominion's commercial airways, and stressed the importance of clubs training as many pilots as possible. , "The Postmaster-General has said that the airmail service between Palmerston North and Dynedin is not the success it was hoped it would be," remarked Mr. Walkley. "No one with any nous would have expected it would be under the present conditions, because the service does not link the main centres of population. Not until the trunk air lines include Auckland and Wellington in their timetables will they be successful. One has to sit up all night writing letters if he desires to use the air mail services in the Dominion." Whatever public opinion might be in regard to disarmament and peace, said Mr. Walkley, it was imperative that the problem of the defence of New Zealand should be viewed logically. "In the interest of everybody in New Zealand we should have a strong air force," he said. "It is all very well to have the British Navy in the Mediterranean, but New Zealand is, at present, wide open to attack. A stronger air force and better defence are needed, and it behoves the Hawerft Aero Club to continuo to do its part in training pilots."