THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, February S, 1937. AIR SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23109, 8 February 1937, Page 8

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, February S, 1937. AIR SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

The Minister of Public Works was at least speaking by the book when, at a ceremony in connection with the construction of a new aerodrome at NelsOn which is expected to be a model of its kind, he observed that air transport is developing more quickly than many people realise. The pace of this development in New Zealand must be regulated, of course, by that of tiie provision of facilities for the maintenance and extension of air services. Very rightly the Government is interesting itself closely in this matter. It is very desirable that the construction of aerodromes or airports should be so undertaken as to meet the national requirements. Considerations relative to the public safety are necessarily involved. Upon the present Government it devolves to break new ground in relation to the development of aviation that is to be expected. It has no need to justify its attitude in insisting that aerodromes shall meet the requirements of safety so far as that can be ensured. Not every

established aerodrome in the Dominion provides a satisfactory landing ground under all meteorological conditions. The Wellington City Council is faced with the necessity of providing an alternative to the aerodrome at Rongotai, and a decision in regard to the site of the emergency port has been reached. The provision of an alternative landing ground for Dunedin is a matter which will have to be dealt with in the near future. Apart from its interest in the development of civil aviation the Government has its responsibility for aviation as a factor in the defence system of the Dominion. Mr Semple seems to have no doubt concerning the part which an air force must play in that connection. He speaks of it as “ the only real way of protecting this country.” This is a sweeping statement, and the judgment expressed in it may not be entirely sound. Under arrangement between the Government and the British Air Ministry an expert officer has already spent some time in the Dominion, surveying the position with regard to aviation and defence requirements, and under his direction, the Minister of Defence has stated, the work of reorganising the Dominion Air Force is to be put in hand immediately. It may be inferred that the direction in which the Government strongly inclines in its defence policy as an outcome of the expert advice that has been tendered to it is that indicated by Mr Semple. This would appear to foreshadow a very considerable concentration on the air arm, and this must involve a proportionately large absorption of the expenditure allotted for defence purposes. The defence question has, however, its aspects of controversy. Representatives of different services hold somewhat different views regarding the best means of ensuring the security of a country. And if an air force constitutes, as Mr Semple has asserted, the only real way of protecting New Zealand, the question why other countries give the heed they do to land forces and navies would seem to require some explanation. An article written a few weeks ago by Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond contains this statement: “A military invasion of any one of the great dominions must take place over a very long sea passage. The first line of defence against a body of ship-carried troops lies at sea. For the troops must be protected throughout their voyage against attack, and the only form in which attack can be made in those wide stretches of ocean is ship-carried. The second line of defence lies on the coPst line, and may be in the form of flotilla craft, surface, submarine and aerial. The third line of defence is on the land.” The discussions on defence policy at the approaching Imperial Conference should enable Mr Savage and Mr Nash, who will represent New Zealand, to acquire an adequate sense of all the requirements which come within the field of the responsibility of the Government of the Dominion.