THE EMPIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 90

THE EMPIRE LETTER.

Br Maorilanda.

May 6, 1909. Perhaps aerial navigation is not, strictly

speaking, an "Empire" subject, but it is

so vast in its possibilities that it seems wise to include it. Perhaps few Tealise the enormous advance that has been made in the art of recent years. It is but a short time since that men who spoke seriously of aviation were looked upon as little short of maniacs. To-day they are listened to with respect, and leaders in the new science, such as the Wright brothers, aTe feted -by kings. Schools for aerial instruction have been founded in more than one country. Colleges have actually appointed aeronautical experts. The British (government has been appealed to for a subsidy; land has been asked for to be put at the disposal of aeroplanists in all, quarters of fche United Kingdom. Until red-tape bands have been loosened sufficiently to permit the Government to grant this private landowners are beings applied to by public advertisement, and are urged to set their parks at the service of members of the aero clubs. The founder of the British Colony of Aerocraft goes 6o far as to urge aerial experiments all round the coast at the distance of every hundred miles or so. The Aerial League, looking into the future, boldly proposes the formation of a flying squadron, which should be placed at the disposal of the Government for a specified number of days each year.

As for the Government side of it, though England is considerably behind some countries, a special Government department for aerial investigation has been tormed, and the National Physical Laboratory has been requested to" institute a course of continuous investigation, experimental and otherwise, on matters relating to aviation. Of course, the question par excellence, so far as aeronauts are concerned, is how to utilise that practically unknown foree — atmospheric electricity. No one in their sane senses contemplates the possibility of an army of airships bombarding a foreign city, or even of a regiment of French flyers descending upon London — that kind of an idea is limited to those with De Rougemont imaginations. The function of an airship, according to experts, is to operate against fleets near to the coast, to guard harbours, and to observe the operations of hostile forces near tine frontier. Keeping near to its base, it will want little stores and a email crew. This will enable it to carry telegraphic apparatus and bombs. As for the target airships and aeroplanes will present to the enemy, let us take as examples those best known to the general public— the Zeppelin ship and the Wright aeroplane. The former, broadside ! on, offers a good mark for any gun, but stem on guns would have to be sighted at a 40ft circle. Supposing she were 1000 ft up, ouir present naval guns could not be trained upon her at less than a mile and a-half distance ; it is obvious that even were the range known a hit at suoh a distance would be a mere fluke. Or, to take another view of it, an airship three miles distant from a battleship would be practically cafe. At the respective speeds of 20 miles and 10 knots an hour the danger zone would be passed in three minutes, and the airship could ' hover above the water vessel to deal what blows she would. Attack could only come i from a third level. I

The aeroplane offers even less of a target. It is true that Wright's wings measure 40ft across, but they are only 7ft fore and aft. And were a shell to pass through them it does not necessarily follow that the vessel would fall. Unless the driver oi a vital part of the aeroplane were hit it could almost certainly continue. Even at the present rate of speed —40 miles an hour— it would need extraordinary marksmanship to wreck her. An additional safeguard is that the height attainable by an aeroplane is not limited by the density of air to anything like the extent to which the airship is affected by the same feature Besides this, there are two other points on which Wright lavs stress. One is that 200 aeroplanes can be constructed at the cost of one Zeppelin, and the second, that aeroplanes can »a carried and launched from the deck of a battleship. But to turn from speculative affair* to hard facts. Those who believe that union is strength will be looking with regret at the week s news from South Africa, for it looks as though the Cape would wreck the Closer Union" project. It is particularly hard from the point of view of the Iransvaal and the Orange River Colony Both of which have overcome local opposition and accepted the Draft Constitution in its original f orm , so great was their eagerness to advance matters. Natal too, has behaved well, for she admits that "er suggested amendments will rot be insisted upon if there is danger that they would prove fatal to the scheme. The point at issue in the Cape is representation. Under the present system the value of a country vote is from 30 to 50 per cent, higher than a town vo+e, which means that as the majority of country people are adherents of the Afrikander J*ond, this party has an -unfair advantage -The leader of it, Mr Hofmeyer, now demands an alteration in the Draft Constitution which shall perpetuate this over representation of the country districts. He is also desirous of enforcing bilangulism. lhis would result in giving the reactionaries the balance of power and crippling trad«. It is the racial problem again in acute form. The wrath and consternation among the British and progressive Dutch can be imagined, for both have made great sacrifices in the belief that the adoption of the principal of equal rights would mean the removal of many points of friction and pave the way for racial friendship in South Africa. Should these amendments be passed the British and

their allies will be compelled to cast thei: strength against, instead of for, the Con stitution for which they have been etrug gling. The irony of it is almost farcical It is particularly hard coming at thi date, when the delegates who were V y bring the Constitution to England to dis jg cuss it with the Home Government hac [S actually been appointed and their pas sages arranged. lei c In addition to this political trial Nata .£ has the trouble of her railway strike _ though it is thought that this is nearinj c the end.. The great majority are nov . definitely on the side of the Government c their views having been determined by th< . terrorising ~ tactics employed by tin j strikers. The leaders have refused U c accept the Government's offer to mcci and arrange a settlement, and have there r_ fore been definitely dismissed, which, o: ' r course, means that they have lost thei: c superannuation privileges. They have lee |i according to their lights and have nol [j' scrupled to sacrifice themselves ; but theii ■_ way has not been their men's way, wit! j. the result that many have returned t< work individually. Mounted police hav< been hastily drafted into Durban anc specially sworn in ; armed constables are I patrolling the railways to prevent th< r continuance of the intimidation policy. c The best news perhaps that comes from j this eection of the Empire this week concerns the maize trade. The reports on the * cereal are excellent, and a second crop is j expected. The Transvaal and Orange Kiver Colony are following in Natal's steps in this matter, and are fast becoming large exporters in this line; and Cape Colony is just beginning to realise j her possibilities. This is particularly good, since South African maize obtains l a, premium in the Home and Continental markets owing to ite quality and dryness. t Natal has done exceptionally well owing to the manner in which she has aiTanged r for maize to be inspected and graded at ; Durban. Buyers abroad have recogni.«ed ' the value of this, and in purchasing are \ stipulating for "Natal graded maize." Newfoundland, too, has her political ; troubles at present, and a general elec- | tion campaign is being waged with great ' j vigour, invective, and bitterness in all her ' j 36 constituencies. '^No confederation with ; Canada. !"' is the cry of both parties, with the result that ejph is accusing the other of "coquetting with Canada" and purporting to unveil plots to prove the accusation. Peeling runs intensely high, as was shown by the ducking of the ex-Premier Sir Robert Bond at Western Bay, -where he was actually thrown into the sea. He had been advised to cancel his engagement to speak there, but with the courage for which he is well known refused, and disembarked in the face of prolonged hooting. •Rowdies immedtiately surounded him, and he was half pushed, half hurled into the water. A rowing boat _put out to the rescue, and he climbed into it, to be taken back to the -steamer amid a chorus of hisses and jeers. The outbreak is said to have been occasioned by recent political developments and allegations. However this may be, it is a decided disgrace that such a thing should have been permitted to occur to a man like Sir Robert Bond. It is expected that this year the jubilee meeting of the National Rifle Association at Bisley will be even better attended than usual. The King's Prize is drawing marksmen from almost every one of the larger oversea dominions. In addition to this there is to be a special "Standard of i Empire Prize" given to the marksman j from overseas who finishes highest- in the Amgs. There is to be no extra entrance fee for this ; it will consist of shield and £20. Even without this the King's is a big prize list; the awards begin at £2, and go up to a gold medal, gold badge, and £250. As for the past, Canada has won this blue ribbon prize twice, with | Hayhurst and Perry; -Australia, despite manful efforts, has only succeeded once, with Adison. fe'outh Africa has had the hardest of "luck, as she has lost by a solitary point, while New Zealand's Prize marksman was unfortunately a Home shot when he made his success. It is over 30 years now since the colonies entered men for the competition. i