USE OF HELIUM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 9

USE OF HELIUM

AMERICA'S PROHIBITION

STEP TOWARD REMOVAL

INQUIRIES INTO TRAGEDY

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 8

As the result of the Hindenburg disaster the Military Affairs Committee of the Senate rushed through a favourable report on a bill to liberalise the sale of helium and to permit its export on certain conditions.

Officials explain that the United States Government originally indicated its willingness to supply sufficient helium for use in the Hindenburg but the German designers rejected the offer owing to the high cost and the inferior lifting power of helium. The designers contended that hydrogen was actually as safe because of the greater ease in manoeuvering to avoid storms, etc. The Navy Department has appointed its own special board of investigation which will hold public hearings simultaneously with those of the board set up by the Commerce Department. However, it will confine itself to matters directly affecting the Government, leaving the inquiry as to the cause of the disaster to the Commerce Department's board. Herr von Boettiger has been appointed German observer at the latter inquiry. Mr. ,J. M. Johnson, Assistant-Secre-tary of Commerce, who flew to the scene of the disaster, has appointed a board of three members to start public hearings on Monday. The board will be assisted by four technical advisers representing the Army, Navy, Senate and the State of Now Jersey. The coroner lias cancelled the proposal inquest oti the ground that it would merely duplicate the Federal inquiry.