NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND DEFENCE.

ADVANTAGES OF AIR FLEET.

EFFICIENCY AND ECONOMY.

CHRISTCHURCH SUGGESTION.

[by trcecraph—own correspondent.] CimiSTCHURcn, Thursday. In a letter to the Lyttelton Times the Hon. H. F. Wigram, M.L.C., suggests that the future security of these islands against an invader might be secured by I means of an air fleet. He points out that ; air power, besides being infinitely cheaper than sea power, will probably be the dominant factor in future warfare. The striking distance from which an aerial fleet can dperate is at present limited to a few hundred miles, and it follows that the only foe which our aerial fleet could have to encounter in its own element would be such few hydroplanes as might be carried by hostile cruisers. Mr. Wigram urges the establishment of a school of aviation in New Zealand, and thinks it should not be impracticable for the Government to obtain a supply of machines and instructors sufficient for training purposes.

Mr. Wigram says: "Compared with the cost of guns and ships, armament by aeroplanes is inexpensive, and there is another difference between the two forms of defence which is worth consideration. Besides the initial expense the maintenance of ships and guns and the training of the officers and men is a heavy expense in times of peace. An aerial fleet, on the other hand, could be made to bo partly felf-supporting. An aeroplane or hydroplane capable of carrying a load of bombs could in time of peace carry an equal weight of mails or passengers, or, in the case of a hydroplane, of lighthouse supplies. The mail service between Wellington and Lyttelton could be accomplished in fine weather in two hours. If the Gov. ebraent were to inaugurate an aerial service on the lines I have indicated it would bo promptly followed by private enterprise. The time to make regulations for the control of aerial traffic is now, before any vested interests have grown up. The Government might make such traffic a State monopoly, like that of the railways and telegraphs, or might license such vessels only as complied with standard regulations, and reserve the right to commandeer them for purposes of defence."