THE POSITION OF AVIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 8

THE POSITION OF AVIATION.

A surprising and disappointing attitude was adopted by the Prime Minister ■ and the Minister for Defence yesterday toward! the request for adequate financial assistance for the flying school ) at Auckland. In the past, the promoters of this enterprise have been officially eh-' couraged to continue their efforts, and ' have done: so . with very small help from the State, at very greafc cost Jto themselves/ and, ;/ it can hardly be disputed, to the great benefit of the country. No doubt the deputation hoped to obtain a definite indication whether the Government's aviation policy includes >■ the maintenance \of a•' seaplane station, but it is impossible to discover from the Ministers' replies whether they have reached any. decisions in regard,to the particular question, or indeed have any aviation policy at all. :So many reasons were , given for postponing an answer that the only result was to conceal :.r the Government's opinions. Perhaps the '-, strangest observation " was that made in rejgard to civil.aviation. It has been demonstrated that flying on a commercial basis is not practicable iat present, but the "odd jobs" which Sir Heaton Rhodes dismissed - so brusquely are the ■•• only means ~by which the cost of defensive aviation can be reduced, arid they are at any rate the i first stage in civil aviation. Mr. Massey also insisted that the question was solely one of defence— that implies that the whole cost will be borne? by the 'Government-—but the . Government has : not ascertained whether seaplanes are necessary or where the station should be. It may be suggested that the advice,! of a high : naval authority is available in New Zealand, and "that the Admiralty might be consulted by, more , expeditious means' thin personal inquiry by the Prime Minister.' That:advice^ may lead to the final abandonment of the seaplane enterprise, but since it is more likely to be; in the other direction, it. is surely only prudent/, to Stake such J action as is necessary to preserve j the personnel and the eauipment of J the. Auckland school. To ask Mr.j Walsh to do.;this';at his own expense j while Mr. Massey goes to London jis manifestly unreasonable. ;If the 1 delay is unavoidable, the Government should at least undertake to I assist the flying ...school to: keep going I until a decision has 'been reached^ 1