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Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18583, 9 December 1920, Page 6

The 'Wellington “ Central Progress League ’! has been conducting a little etatistioal research* into tho Publio Works Estimates, and has come to the conclusion that Auckland is getting highly preferential treatment at the hands of the Government. The “ Evening Post,” commenting on tho figures produced, says that they deal with “Auckland and the rest of New Zealand,” but that is not quite correct. The comparison extends only as far south as Marlborough and Nelson. A Dominion comparison was mode in these columns a few weeks ago, and exhibited the disparity between tho treatment of Auckland and that acoorded to other districts more Impressively than any computation could do which proceeds on tho assumption that the Huruttui is the southern boundary of Now Zealand. However, wo nre pleased that Wellington is waking Up and taking notice, and that its Progress League has protested against a syetem under which Parliament authorities expenditure on one scale and the Department allocates it on another.

In other droumstanoes than those which are reported to exist we should hare felt it our duty to coll in question th® principle of allowing a shipping company to instal labour-saving cargo handling appLianoes on tho wharf at Lyttelton. The port is notoriously illoquipped with suoh devices and there can be ilittle doubt that tho cost of cargo-handling by present primitive methods and at present high wages for waterside labour, constitutes a very heavy tax on the community. Under the arrangement authorised by yesterday’s meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board the Union Steam Ship Company is to be allowed to lease a wharf and apace for the Storage of coal, and will instal a two-ton coal grab. The rights of the board as to termination of the leaeo and purchase of the plant have been fully safeguarded, and the prinoipal Harbour Boards, in conference with the Publio Work# Department, have come to the conclusion that they do not care to take the risk of installing such machinery on their own account. The arrangement entered into, therefore, is unassailable. We hope, however, that the precedent will not discourage tho provision at Lyttelton,’ by the board, of more modem appliances.

Amphibious aircraft have claimed the attention of British designers for some time past, and the recent prize awards of the British Air Ministry for air-land-and-rwafter machines have disclosed a degree of perfection in design that helps, to maintain the distinct supremacy of Britain in aerial progress. The competitions were a practical attempt to encourage civil aviation, which, it is understood, is making sure, if slow progress at ‘Home. So satisfactory were tbe merits of tbe machines in the amphibious class that the committee in awarding the first prise of £IO,OOO to the Vickers Viking, and the second prize to the Supermarine “ Ampliibian,” recommended that the Second prize should be increased to £BOOO as the monetary awards did not represent the relative standards of merit in the first two machines. Special interest attaches to the amphibious machines in New Zealand, where it is possible, they may make their appearance as commercial aviation, is developed.

Hie “Viking” can bo “landed” on water and driven straight on" to the beach or land without any special slipway. Fitted with a 450 h.p. Napier engine, it carries five passengers at a speed of 120 miles an hour. The award to the “ Viking ” is the fourth big prize won on Vickers machines in air competitions. The others included the “ Daily Alnil ” prize of £IO,OOO for the Atlantic flight, won by the late Sir John Aloock, and the prize of £IO,OOO won by Sir Boss Smith in bis flight from London to Australia. The “Viking” was the result of experimental work whioh had been carried out by the aviation department of Vickers Ltd., since the armistice. It was the first machine of the kind turned out, and therefore its cost far exceeded tho amount of the prize. The second prize went to the Supermarine Aviation Works for a “ Supermarine Amphibian,” fitted with a RollsRoyce Eagle engine. The judges Considered that the results achieved in the competition, showed a considerable ndvance in machines of the kind.