DOMINION AIR SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 11

DOMINION AIR SERVICES.

RETIREMENT OF DIRECTOR. COMMANDER GRANT-DALTON. [BT TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "WELLINGTON, Monday. Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton, who has been director of air services for two years, will relinquish his position on Wednesday, his appointment having expired. He will bo succeeded, it is understood, by Squadron-Leader T. Wilkes, who returned earlier in the year from England, where ho had been engaged as liaison officer at tho Air Ministry.*" Wing-Comrnander Grant-Dalton came to New Zealand in October, .1929, when aero clubs had been formed throughout the Dominion, but were in many cases unable to establish themselves, and to hiin fell the lot of organising them in such a way that the scheme would work successfully. The task required a great deal of tact and ability, and tho firm success which the clubs have achieved is itself a tribute to the way in which the task was carried out. Wing-Cornmander GrantDalton controlled both civil and military aviation. lie embarked upon a progressive programme. Along with the expansion of civil aviation, he developed the air base at Hobsonville, and brought about the use of air force rank titles, an indication that the Air Forco had to be regarded as a separate service from the Army.

Last year he organised the Air Force into a wing, comprising four squadrons, an arrangement which has facilitated the administration of the force. lie introduced a number of new types of machines into Iho Air Force, and proposed that a supermarino Southampton flying boat might bo purchased and flown from England to New Zealand by one of the officers at Hobsonville air base, but the scheme was negatived, as were many others, on the score of expense. With tho depression, tho estimates were cut so heavily that progress was rendered almost impossible. Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton had a distinguished career in tho Great War and subsequently held many important appointments.