AVIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 1 March 1921, Page 17

AVIATION.

BELGIAN KING HONOURED. LONDON, February 23. (Received Feb. 24, at 7.4<T p.m.) The King has awarded the King of the Belgians the Distinguished Flying Cross for gallantly flying over the lines in a British aircraft personally to reconnoitre the enemy position. The fact could not be disclosed during the war. Wing-commander, the Duke of Y 7 ork, will go to Brussels to confer the medal tomorrow. FUTURE OF AVIATION. LONDON, February 23. The Overseas Club gave a luncheon to Sir Ross Smith. Colonel Seely, in proposing the aviator’s health, said those who cared for the future of British aviators

rejoiced to meet Sir Ross and Sir Kelttt Smith after their great adventure. Sir Ross Smith’s reply emphasised bhQ great part which aviation must play commercially, especially in countries with ft wide expanse (ike Australia. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. LONDON, February 24. Lord Desborough, presiding at the Im* periai Air Fleet Committee’s luncheon to Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith, referred to the great part the dominions had played in flying. Sir Joseph Ward, in proposing th£ toast of the chairman, alluded to the imy pending establishment of flying between Australia and New Zealand. Lord Desborough read a telegram front the King, in which his Majesty referred t<t the great achievement of Sir Ross and Sit Keith Smith, adding that he was in hearty sympathy with the gathering in honour oil ■" the distinguished aviators. The Air Fleet Committee presented St*. Ross and Sir Keith Smith with an AuaV' tralian Flag. i. THE ESTIMATES INCREASED. • LONDON, February 26. The Air Estimates show an advance ol £2,000,000 on those of last year. The Ministry announces a proposed su*s pension of the Air Force’s aiiship service, as the maintenance entailed a diminution of the efforts on behalf of those service* of which the fighting value has been more fully demonstrated. With a view to encouraging their development it is proposed to subsidise the aerial transport com. panies to the extent of £60,000. The French companies are reported next week to be reducing the Paris to London fares to £6 6s, and the carriage of goods to Is a pound up to 100 pound* and /0d a pound thereafter. AIR TRANSPORT IN NEW ZEALAND. (Fbom Oub Own Corbespondewt.i WELLINGTON, February 25. An aviation expert has been interviewed by the Dominion regarding the reported unprofitableness of the aerial mail service between Christchurch and Timaru. Die actual route chosen, he says, is not well suited to demonstrate the comn ercial value of aerial transport. The existing railway transport between these particular towns is quite sufficiently rapid and frequent to meet the usual and ordinary demands of the business public, and the distance—approximately one hundred miles—is too small to permit of any great saving of time which might warrant the pay ment of special rates of postage and fares, He stressed the necessity of emergency landing grounds along passenger lines of route. The Canterbury Plains afforded many spots where forced landings could be made in the event of engine trouble. The purchase of terminal aerodromes and emergency landing grounds to link them up would cost the Government such a huge sum as to put that question out of court at once. In the United Kingdom municipalities have in many cases purchased aerodromes, and emergency landing grounds have been marked out, and either rented or given 4 freely by their publicspirited owners for use if required. In New Zealand, Blenheim is proposing to have its municipal aerodrome, and landowners on the Christchurch-Blenheim route have readily consented to make their fields available for use if necessary. The provision of routes so organised will do much to speed up the growth of publio confidence, in the safety of aircraft, and will ensure the success of commercial aviation in the dominion.