CLAIMS OF AVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 10

CLAIMS OF AVIATION.

, , | AUCKLAND DEPUTATION. GOVERNMENT'S . ATTITUDE. QUESTION ,OF DEFENCE.' AWAITING EXPERT ADVICE. i [BY TEGfiGßAJH.'i—"■'". REPORTER.] '.■•;* ''.''.'' )'■ '£ WELLINGTON. Thursday. '' The question of the future of aviation in Auckland was brought " r before,, the Prime Minister and; the Minister for Defence this morning by Mr. Loo Walsh, of the New: Zealand Flying School, and most of the Auckland members of Parliament. \ v.-:: '•;■':■ ' > '■ : -Mr. Walsh said : the object of the depu:tation •was "■■■ to ask for a greater measure of support for the flying school. ,/ The present ; subsidy -;, of, £1500 a year . was quite inadequate if the school was going to maintain its operations. Even working under ' the most stringent' economy it was impossible to curtail the' expenses to less than £5000. . The maximum earnings from public services were £1000 a year, and with ' the ■ subsidy of £1500 there was a loss of £2500 a year. ' i The school had reached a stage where it could not carry: on any longer i under the present conditions. '. The only remedy was that ; the Government, recognising, as ha believed it "did, the Value of. aviation, would increase the subsidy and provide the school with work. , ;;.,; : ~ ' Only Surviving Company/ ~ " Tour companies had ■ essayed to foster aviation in New Zealand. ■ The Auckland company was the first, and it was the only one that was still carrying on. The Hastings . company < ceased - operations some time ago, the Timaru : company ceased last year, and the Canterbury company, had been taken over by the Government. The position now was that the Auckland School would have to cease unless' more assistance was given. The subsidy of £1500 was a very small sura to receive from the Government in an important industry liko aviation from tho point of view of defence and, its scientific value. • . ' •„'■'.- ■'..' ~ "', •'. ' ' Mr. Massey; -We have to look at it principally from ■ the point , of view of defence. ' :: ; ; ;- ■ *■' -■',' v Mr. Walsh said there "was another aspect, .that it was the sole seaplane station, and might well receive more support, instead of having to struggle along. He ' would ; also point out its value for training officers! of the New Zealand Air' Force. There wore at present only about three seaplane pilots, and, if the school had even twenty to train, that would' be a useful number. The site of the school was subject to three months' notice,' and the lease having expired } some months ago, they might bo given notice to quit. He understood a site at Tamaki had been selected by the Defence Department as suitable for the establishment of a station to continue aviation-work in Auckland. ;'";■'":■ . ' Another' Site Suggested. '* Mr. Massey: Suppose a site is selected at one of the northern ports s ' Mr. Walsh: That is a matter for the Government. ' -■-'.'' ?:■■■■■'•;■'■'- ■"'■■■' "' '':?;■, '".'•' Mr. Massey: Of courso lam not going to say it will be there, Mr. Walsh said that if the matter was to be looked at solely from the point of view of defence, ;it, ceant that; civil aviation would lapse. Mr. Massey: What do you mean by civil aviation? Mr. Walsh: The transport of business men. The machines have also been used by doctors in urgent cases ' -■«..•--• Sir Heaton Rhodes: But that would be. only in odd cases. V, You cannot depend on it. - * '■.■■: - . . ,- ' - , Mr. Walsh: No, but it is a development. '■'] He added that he would ask that the work should be continued. - It was of value for educating the: public. V ' Sir Heaton Rhodes said he received a telegram yesterday pointing out "there was another site 20 miles' from 'Auckland. He mentioned that only as an indication that there were other sites. . •;; '■:;■ ;' ' i Mr. Walsh: If the Government decides on another site, the school would -like to transfer to the Government. ' : „ > Sir Heaton Rhodes: , You must be in Auckland for civil aviation ? ■■?■/;>-.■ Amount of Subsidy. • .< Mr. Walsh: Yes. - - ,Sir Heaton Rhodes: If you get as increased subsidy, would you be able to educe i your liabilities . ■• ; '■.■';. j,.*' |;';;W Mr. Walsh: We would be able to keep our heads above water. ■• , • Mr.' Massey: What amount do you re-quire?-':-/-;y '■/'''*> ;;■,'''.' "'.'y '* ■. S'-*'"'■?':"%')■■■■ Mr. Walsh replied that a straight-out £3000 was necessary. - ■ : ■ Sir Heaton Rhodes: \ But you mentioned £4600 to me yesterday. . .' __ • f- Mr. Walsh: That includes the training of officers. If you think that that means training 20 seaplane pilots, it is not too much. It is really only' a • small amount. .••/■.;; Mr. : Massey: Perhaps you would '-_. not think so lif you had to find the small amounts. Continuing, he said that "the Government "had to look at the .matter from the point of defence. " Personally, he was not'certain that "■ aviation for many years to come was going to be of any use for. civil purposes. It had to form an important': part *of defence in this and any, other country. The Government had to be, guided by the opinion of experts, ; and had to get their opinion as to what was a proper site as a, centre for aviation purposes. ''■';■ Whether it was ; going to ■ be Auckland or'some other place than Auck- ; land, had to be settled, altogether apart from sentiment. It, was■■ a question,,of what was best to the Dominion and/the Empire from the, point of defence.. That was the position. : Until they had the opinion of the men" competent to; judge it was no good spending money if it was only to be wasted. ■':y?,''^^\ Seaplanes or Aeroplanes. ' . Sir Heaton Rhodes: After the Imperial Conference, you will have greater knowledge as to how ;-;far seaplanes have ..to work in conjunction with the Admiralty, Mr.- Massey: Yes, it has to be decided yet whether seaplanes of aeroplanes are the best \ for the purpose. ;T: hope to get : that information when ''■ I get to London. ■,' Mr. Walsh: ' Do. I understand you are ; not favourable =to an i increased subsidy 1 We are not asking anything very great. Mr. Massey: You are asking for £5000. ;c Mr. Walsh:/Of which you are getting the. benefit in the training of officers. : rMr. Massey: I am' not agoing to discuss that at present. .''..' ■.(_,.; ; -,..';;' ' Mr,-; Walsh: Have we to wait until you return from the conference ? ■ ; Mr. Massey: I cannot help that. ■ - Mr. Walsh: There is about £20,000 devoted to aviation, and nothing appears for Auckland. 1 '■.:.•■" ■ ) Mr. Massey: What' do, you mean by ; £20,000 a year? ..,, Do you mean.to say that little concern in Christchurch would cost £20,000 a year? ■ ■ " ( v ; Mr. Walsh: You will be spending money on it. ',;.;;■■ -.„"' ./.;,;•';'■ ;,,: :• "'";";"■:■'.. Mr. Massey: It is worth a great deal more than it cost the Government. :" Mr. Walsh: We are not ,in a position to make a handsome gift like Mr. Wigram ; made. : ; ; ;- ;; - V; .':,;; ' Mr. Massey: \ I am asking the Minister . for Defence to get ; a report from his officers, -and when it is;received the matter will be submitted to Cabinet. 1 ! . Mr. W. J. Jordan, : M.P.; (Manukau)] said all the Auckland members were keenly interested and would regret very much if they lost an aviation service 'in Auck.land.. . ; ■_ ~'»,-, t '"" Mr.' Massey: That is not 1 what I have to consider. I have to consider what is best for the country and the Empire. I am not going to allow politics" to be mixed up ■ in this. ;■■> There-can be no political influence in this. .v i> ; ; • Mr. Jordan: There is no- : suggestion of that. You can 1 see the :■ representatives of the different parties here. : " ,'' Mr.; J. A. Young. ; M.P. (Hamilton), said ho realised-it was a matter in. which the Government must be' influenced by the advice of its experts. There could be no parochial view. ..'Auckland might be the right place, or it might be North of Auckland, but whatever action the Government took in the direction of' national defence, he would support the Government. ; ;> ; Mr. Massey: That is thought attitude to take up.'": ;*; :'■';'■■:.!";■..:•;-:;-.:-•^••■-:..-v:-0v