NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17326, 25 November 1919, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

FIREPROOF AEROPLANES.

The aeroplane of the future will probably be built entirely of non-combustible material. Important advances in this direction have already been made by British engineers, who have produced wing frames of " duralumin " and of steel. At the British Science Products Exhibition of 1919 several complete wings of " duralumin" weTe shown. These were generally arranged with flanged spars connected by lattice bracing. Steel wings were also exhibited, built up of thin strips of high tensile steel electrically welded. One type of steel spar is claimed to be 10 per cent, lighter and 30 per cent. stronger than the corresponding wooden spar. Composite wood and steel wings are also shown by various British makers. All-metal construction is not only fireresisting, but is claimed to be more durable, reliable, and resistant to atmospheric changes. At present the main drawback is its higher cost, but British makers are looking forward to reducing this handicap by improved manufacturing methods. LABOUR FOR BELGIUM. Anxiety is felt in Germany as to how the labour for repairing the devastation in France and Belgium is to be provided, since it is said that only one-fifth of the men necessary will volunteer for this work. Consequently four-fifths will have somehow or other to be got together, presumably from the workers of the great cities, among which Berlin will naturally furnish an important contingent. If all other means fail the German Government will be obliged to apply more or less gentle compulsion, and hardly any other way can be foreseen than a kind of levy. This would be attended with great difficulties, since the workers would certainly reject every kind of compulsion. The German Metal-workers' Union declares itself prepared to recommend its members to take part in the work of restoration provided capitalist influence be entirely excluded from this work, and that the recruiting and appointment of the workers and the work itself be to a certain extent under the control of the trade unions, which are no be empowered to intervene in these matters.