ENGINEERS CONFER

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 74, 22 February 1930, Page 6

ENGINEERS CONFER

PAPER ON AVIATION. ALIVE TO MODERN NEEDS. Per Prose Association. DUNEDIN ,Feb. 21. The greater part of the morning session to-day of tho annual conference of the New Zealand Society of Civil Engineers was devoted to a discussion on a paper presented by ' Mr F. J. Jones M.V., 0.1.5.0., on tho subject: “The Economics of Railway Transportation as Applied to New Construction.” This paper was prepared for tho annual meeting in Christchurch last year, but time did not permit of a discussion on it on that occasion. Mr J. S. L. Deem (Wanganui) delivered an address in the afternoon on Civil Aviation and Airport Design.” The speaker said that the problem of providing terminal facilities for travel was a comparatively new one to the civil engineer and one, perhaps, not fully appreciated by those upon whom the responsibility rested. It behoved them, ns a profession, to keep in touch with all phases of the development. The prediction was rapidly being realised that a city without an airport would be as much behind the times a$ one without a railway station. The limit of usefulness of the modern aeroplane seemed to be fixed only by the number of places that could be provided for landing and taking off. The speaker referred to the various aspects of airport design and the formation of runways and landing surfnees, atmospheric* influences, etc., and said that, in the light of their present knowledge, it wns perhaps difficult to lay down definite specifications for airport development. Investigation and experience had yet to decide what was the most desirable length and width of a. runway, the permissible slope on the runway and any other part of the field, the rapidity of drainage, colour of runways as affecting night flying, and the amount of pressure which surfaces

of runways should withstand. They might ultimately find that landing grounds would b© provided on the roofs of city and station buildings and ’planes flying to some convenient airport to refuel. Mr Deem, with the aid of a blackboard, illustrated his points with regard to the formation of runways and the lay out of aerodromes. Several other papers were read by members. Mr G. T. Murray, the new president for the year, was installed by the outgoing president, and took the chair amidst loud applause. Mr Murray said that he would do his best to deserve the high honour which had been conferred on him. Dunedin was the city of his birth and the city where he commenced to learn the rudiments of his profession. He appreciated the honour more because he had received it in liis old home town. The conference concluded its sitting late this afternoon.