AVIATION IN NEW ZEALAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17727, 11 September 1919, Page 5

AVIATION IN NEW ZEALAND

VIEWS OF LADY PIONEER. j PRAISE FOR TWO TRAINING CENTRES. (Fbom Ode Own Cobbespondett.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 10. *Mrs Maurice Hewlett, the first Englishwoman to fly an aeroplane, had the opportunity in Christcflurch yesterday of making a flight over tho city. Instead of being J pilot, however, ah© was' observer, as she had not flown any fast types of machines such as the Bristol fighters. Captain J. H. Don was her pilot. In conversation with, a limes representative after her flight, Mrs Hewlett said that she had been curious to see how aviation progressed so far from the centre of the Empire, and she had been agreeably surprised to find it so strongly represented at Auckland and Christahurch. Mrs Hewlett spoke enthusiastically of the uphill pioneering work done by these two centres of aviation— Sockburn and Kohimarama. She commented on the great number of bays on the coast favourable for seaplanes, which she said could be easily anchored with their wings folded in many sheltered points on the coast, where the mountainous nature of the North Island! made landings difficult The sea coast, fortunately, was favourable for seaplanes. The flat country of Canterbury, on the other hand, was simply ideal for aeroplanes. "I should train my pilots down hero in the land machines," Mrs Hewlett said, "and then put them on to seaplanes for the North Island." She explained that this would save much time in tho longer seaplane course. Sockburn she regarded as a splendid training j centre, hut she stressed the importance of I seaplanes for defensive patrol work and carrying between seaport towns. A% for manufacturing in_New Zealand, Mrs Hewlett said that with only a million people it would not pay any firm to establish aeroplane factories unless assured of the whole of the business. Tbe engines would always have to be imported, but if two standard 1 types of machines were decided on, and sockets and strainers imported, the rests could be made in New Zealand, as suitable timber was in the country.