The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 24, 1920. AVIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10546, 24 March 1920, Page 4

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, MARCH. 24, 1920. AVIATION

i The Hon, J. G. Coates, like most people in the up-to-dato world of today, shows, as hiß remarks we published yesterday indicate, his apprwoia.'tion of the importance of aviation. Unlike a great many people •who are carried away by uninformed wonder and war memories, ho does not permit appreciation to injure his judgment. As a matter of fact, like a few apostles of aviation among us, at the head of whom is that ardent patriot, the Hon. H. F. Wigram, M.L.C, he studies the question earn, estly from the practical point of view. It is the right fraime of mind for a Minister of the Crown. The greatest danger that this art has to encounter to-day is from the headlong enthusiasm of military men. These are apt to regard aviation solely • from the war viewpoint, prone to exaggerate the value of the new arm, and likely by their demands for recognition, which are far beyond their expert knowledge, to cause the public, appreciation to turn >to disgust. Now, the art of flying is one of the best, as it is one of the most recent gifts of science to the World. It owes its phenomenal development to war, and it repaid the expense of that development by war services so valuable that they should, in the judgment of many, be credited with the lion's share of the great victory they undoubtedly helped to win. But the value of the conquest of <the air is not confined to war—by any means. On the contrary, the greatest proportion of it by far lies in the field of peace. Its future value—which no man can at present hope, to even approximately assess—ls not destruction of life and property, but the develop, ment and maintenance of the benefits of civilisation. If war ever comes again, aviation will, of couree, help irf the defence of nations. If war Were to disappear for ever, aviation would have to go on for ever, with improving mastery. In the destiny .of aviation war is a side issue merely. The study of its development must be directed to the benefit of humanity, and that can only be done from the point of view of peace.

Of how tho. individual can work on those lines, Bishop Cloary has given ub several ©samples. Mr Holmnn, of New South Walos, has contributed a notable effort. Tho Postal Department of New Zealand, under the Ministerial authority of the (Hon. Mr Coates, is giving an example of State effort.* In tho OH World Governments, companies, and individuals are doing tho same thing on a scale far larger and in a manner far more thorough as well as comprehensive. Tho lessons thoy are learning in the Old World are open to"' us of the overseas hpth from the catalogue of achieve*

ments and from their explanations, to the improvement of our sense of proportion. For example, Mr Coates said that there is not in New Zealand a flying machine with power sufficient to carry it across the Tasman Soa. He showed, in addition, the right knowledge of the history of development since tho war; the knowledge of the relations time, distance, and speed in the financial stability of aviation schemes. His experts have by actual experiment discovered how much more it costs to carry mail parcels by air than by land. It will soon be known whether tho corresponding public will bo ready to cover the extra cost, and thus beforo long the U6e of the aeroplane may become an established practice in postal work. Passenger work will probably soon be equally well understood, whether to become common or to be postponed remains to bo seen. There is, of course, the constant improvement going on in tho Old World when money and brains are persistently wrestling with the problems of increased efficiency and diminished cost. Tho Postal Department i* making a practical beginning on prudonb lines. It is not, to judge by the remarks of the Minister, carried away by tho glamour of a flight over the Tasman Sea. As a matter of fact, nothing would bo learned from such a flight, for with the crossing of the Atlantic all has been learned that was wanted. We can, with the rest of the world, wait for developments in tho direction of crossing the sea with profit, and therefore with permanent service, according to the capacity of our people. The Public Works Department might well follow the "example of tho postal people, for there is work which that department can do by surveying from the air the route prospeots of the various projects of railway extension now being discussed, and most of them of vital necessity to the problem of increased production. To map the incidental country with its levels and various features would bo easy to a flyer who graduated on tho West front during the war. The work would certainly avoid ait small charge a vast expense of ground surveying, which, moreover, as existing lines prove, is not with the best methods (satisfactory; certainly not so trustworthy or so cheap as aeroplane work. 'There is dearly now very much useful work for flying to do in New "Zealand, work for which we have both tho machines and the men. We can draw tho lino at hWoic work, and keep our energies for the useful work waiting to be done. Therefore, tho activities of the Postal Department, Tv-hich tho Minister detailed, are appreciated by the public, and if tho Public Works Department wero .to proceed in tho same way, the appreciation would be proportionately increased. The' Marine Department might also improve the coastal purveys by seaplane work, which reveals hidden dangers to the eye of the observer, as was proved many times during the war. A little systematic work directed properly and persistently maintained would not cost much, and would, in the days of increased production that are coming, be useful beyond calculation to the increased •hipping incidental to that forward policy. In these various ways New Zealand can make use of new service of the aar, while waiting for the improvement which, according to the confident expectations of competent authorities, is sure beforo long to carry it to a perfection we find it difficult to realise ta-day.