A WOMAN AVIATOR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 13

A WOMAN AVIATOR.

SETTLING IN NEW ZEALAND. VIEWS ON AVIATION. (Special to Dailt Times.} AUCKLAND, January 25. “I was so delighted with New' Zealand when I was out before that I have now come to live hero,” said Mrs Maurice Hcwdett, widow of the well-known author, in an interview in Auckland. Mrs Hcwdett was the first woman aviator in Great Britain to gain her certificate under the Royal Aero Club’s international rules, and her enthusiasm for flying is as keen as it was in earlier days. Discussing the great developments that have taken place in regard to both land and sea flying, Mrs Hewlett expressed the opinion that there was great scope for seaplane flying in New Zealand, for there were such splendid natural harbours to be found. “ You have the men, too,” she added. “ When I was? travelling I met a number of young New Zealand men who were as keen about flying as they could possibly be.” Mrs Hewlett’s son, Wing Ooramander Hewlett, has had some New Zealanders serving under him at Oalshot, the most important seaplane station in England. Among them is Captain Isitt, who has done remarkably fine work in aviation. “If yon had your seaplane stations established in New Zealand—even just a few —they could be used for carrying passengers and mails, as well as training for military work, and in that case they would be partly self-supporting. With no aerodromes, but simply hangars and piers for the ’planes to slide down into the water, there is not so much expense to face as in land flying. There is this about it, too, that, being employed in civil flying, in addition to their military service, your men would always be ready for any clanger that might arise.” The position had changed very considerably, added Mrs Hewlett, in regard to the use of seaplanes since 191 J, when Colonel de Vcre Betti igton was sent out to report upon the position m regard to air work. In a land such as New Zealand, where the natural conformation of the country had to have special consideration, Mrs Hewlett thought there was much to be said m favour of the use of seaplanes. The part that women were taking in aviation was also touched upon by Mrs Hewlett, who considered that women had some very special aptitudes for it. “ They have a very delicate sense of touch,” she said, “keener than that of men in many cases, and they have an extraordinary intuition of what one might call the moods of the machine. When they really go in for aviation thoroughly they are very keen, and have fine courage.” . . , „ Mrs Elliott-Glynn, who had broken the record for a two-seater in high flying at a meeting in Liverpool, was mentioned, and there are others who have done good work. Unfortunately, flying as an individual hobby or recreation was a very expensive thing, and m-.ny women w ho would have made flying more or less a pastime could not do it owing to the expense. ... “ People who were once wealthy m England are no longer so, and they have had to give up their big homes and their entertaining,” said Mrs Hewlett. As an additional proof of how much she likes New Zealand, Mrs Hewlett has brought her family with her from England to settle here.