AVIATION POLICY

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 41

AVIATION POLICY

PRELIMINARY WORK DONE. . (Feom Oub Own Coebespondent.) WELLINGTON. August 19. ' The General Officer Commanding the' New Zealand Forces in his annual report gives a resume of what has been done -in the matter of aviation. stun of £25,000 was voted' lasfc year for aviation, he says. Of this amount only_ £8368 has been expended, no definite policy having yet been laid down in regard _to aviation. Nothing has been done by this department beyond: (a) Registering the qualified pilots who are in New Zealand; (b) arranging for the care and maintenance of the four Government aeroplanes and stores, now stored at the Sockburn Plying School; (c) arranging for the transportation from England of the following machines, which iiave been given by the British Government: — Twenty Avors, nine D.H. 9S, two Bristol fighters, two D.H. 4S; (d) the building of two hangars (not yet completed) for Government machines in the Sockburn aerodrome ; (e) giving financial assistance to the Kohimarama Flying School. Pending a definite Government _ policy in regard to civil aviation, I consider that for some time to come aviation shoxdd in this country bo developed on civil rather than on military lines, and that provision be made for its expansion for military requirements in a national emergency. With this object an Air Boai'd, which comprises representatives of the various State departments concerned, has been set up to consider all questions .of aviation, and advise tho Minister.