FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 70, 23 March 1920, Page 4

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

HON. J. G. COATES'S COMMENTS

SUITABLE MACHINE EASILY

PROCURABLE.

The articles printed in The Post from its Sydney correspondent dealing with the prospect- of an aeroplane ilight between New Zealand and Australia were brought to the notice of the Hon. J. G. Coates (Postmaster-General) this morning. The experimental aerial mail service having been inaugurated during Mr. Coates's regime as Postmaster-General, and the Minister having had a good deal of experience with air services whilst on active service with the N.Z.K.F., he was asked for his opinion as to the feasibility of New Zealand taking a lead in an air flight across the Tasman. "The trip such as is spoken of by your correspondent," said Mr. Coates, "could not be undertaken by the machines we have at present in the Dominion. In the first place, the engines in the machines we already have are not powerful enough, to cover a 'journey between here and Sydney. It is not so much the weather conditions that prevail across the Tasman Sea. that have to be considered—a 'plane could easily withstand these—but the power of the engines, the stowvgp capacity for benzine, are, as I understand it, the most vital requirements for a trip of the kind to be made. I must say that for a New Zealand machine with a New Zealander as pilot to successfully cover a run to Australia, would. be a, splendid achievement for this country, and it is a project I am willing to give every assistance to bring about. As I say, we have got to get the machine, and this would not be a difficult matter. Agents and experts acting for British and French aeroplane manufacturers seem just now to be almost as keen to do business with this country as are those representatives in New Zealand soliciting business for motor-cars. Within,the last few weeks several representatives—many with air service during the war—of overseas aeroplane firms have interviewed me championing the reliability of the machines of their firms for mail and other services in New Zealand. The elaborate prospectuses produced' are worth perusal, and it amounts to this—that aeroplane building for commercial utilities is making rapid strides, and consequently, in the not very distant future* commercial machines will be at work in all enterprising countries in the world.

"I propose submitting to the Prime Minister, and possibly to Cabinet, the whole question of air services in New Zealand with the object of .ascertaining the Government's intentions in regard to the services. BRITISH INVESTIGATIONS. ■'Lately I have had submitted to me as Acting-Minister of Defence two very interesting reports dealing with avi.ation. One of the reports is prepared by the Controller-General of British Civil Aviation, and the other contains the. results of. the American Aviation Mission which visited England, France, and Italy. Among the considerations and conclusions .of the British report the following is of interest :—The carriage of mails promises'to be one of the most, important and regular demands which can serve to develop civil aviation, and to place aerial transport concerns on a firm footing. . The future of aerial mail services lies on those routes where a material saving of time can be effected, so that a definite commercial advantage may be obtained. . . The PostmasterGeneral is doubtful whether the demand for express mails during the day time between'the more distant towns in the United Kingdom is likely to be sufficiently extensive to meet the considerable expense of running such a service for mails only. ■■■'But if commercial services were established for passengers and goods, the opportunity would be taken to Utilise them for express letters. The line ox development of aerial mails would seem to lie more on the Continental and Imperial routes- where the long distances give mare scope for the element of speed. For example, in normal times, the ordinary«time Of transit by railway is 36 hours to Turin, 48 hours to Rome, 23 hours to Berlin, 58 hours to Christiania, and 24 houre to Berne. Over such distances the potential saving by aerial transport is considerable. If such acceleration could be obtained, and regularity of service kept up, sufficient correspondence might- be attracted to enable the extra fee to be fixed at a relatively small figure. When regular services to. extra.-European countries become practicable, the gain in time will be still more marked. The more such services can be brought into being, the larger is the area over which the overhead charges are spread; and the lower becomes the cost of each additional service, , which automatically produces an increased de-. mand for such services on routes where high cost lias hitherto negatived the desire for speed.' The report goes on to recommend direct Government subsidies, aa was done by France, to properly launch the air services. POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE.

"The American report is a much more iengthy document than the British report and the 'Mission covers a wider range in its investigations. The American report slates : 'Great Britain's plan of organisation certainly warrants our most careful consideration. It is not argued that the British method is perfect, but it can be stated without fear of contradiction \in any quarter, that it stands to-day the most comprehensive governmental mechanism yet set up by any nation in the world for the encouragement, upbuilding, direction and control of its air resources. This organisation has been born of five bitter years of trial, mistake, experience, and .progress. It is the product of the- best'brains in the British Empire focussed nnderthe spur of national need and the demand of. the British people. We in America'may well study it carefully. The development of. aviation i§ progressing so rapidly at this time that it is difficult even for those in close touch with it to keep up with its pro- ■ gress. _ During the past two months the Atlantic has been crossed four times by aircraft;- first, by a, seaplane of the American ATavy; second, by an airplane of Great Britain ; and finally by an airship,of Great Britain,, which has twice demonstrated its ability to fly between England and America. All of this has been accomplished without the loss of a single life. Airships aro now building in England which will be able to carry from five to ten tons of mail, in addition to the necessary fuel and crew, and cross the Atlantic from London to New York in one-half the time, made by the fastest steamships. Who can say such transportation facilities will not greatly serve civilisation, arid be of immeasurable value to our own country if properly developed and used ?' "