AVIATION BILL

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 81, 10 August 1929, Page 4

AVIATION BILL

AFTERNOON'S DISCUSSION. SUGGESTION OF SEPARATE . MINISTRY. WELLINGTON Last Night. When the House resumed at 2.30 p.m. Mr. C. H. Clinkard said 1% .seemed to him establishment of a separate Ministry for civil aviation would nvolvo overlapping such aa had been. experienced in some other groups of Departments. 'Hie time for a separate Ministry would probably come later, but it was not desirable at the present He did /not think the would raise any objections to the additional power which it was proposed to give local authorities to contribute towards the cost of aerodromes. It was not unusual to give local bodies power to expend a certain amount of money without first gaining the ratepayers' approval by means of a poll. Mr. A. E. Ansell protested against the Government transferring to local bodies responsibility which should be its and added that he considered landing grounds should all he State property. Mr. D. C-. Sullivan advocated keeping aviation under the complete con* trol of the Government. Mr. ,T. McCombs said the Government had evidently realised it was time New Zealand did something in the way of aviation, but '"instead of introducing a 'Bill to do the job the' Minister has brought in a Bill to allow somebody else to do. the job"* Ho suggested the Bill should be referred to Cabinet, which should take steps to undertake the national task along organised national lines. Mr. T. W. McDonald said eh believed aviation would eventually have to be brought under national control, but in the meantime much, could be achieved by private enterprise. ' ' . Mr. J. A, Nash complained that members had not been given an opportunity to ascertain the views af local bodies in their districts. MR. WILFORO'S REPLY. Mr. Wilford, in reply, stated that a number of ideas had been, presented during the ddbaie wjiich would be helpful to the Government. He had circulated copies of the Bill to local bodies which had had an ample opportunity 'of making representations. Wjhatt he was aaixiousi to do was to comply with their wishes regarding the establishment of aviation gi-ounds and aerodromes. The whole act was voluntary. Ho would see that time was provided before the next stage of the Bill for members to communicate with tho local bodies for their opinions on tho subject. Referring to "defence generally, Mr. Wilford said he would like- toi , 'see the whole system altered and the various sections brought up to modern requirements, but certain; commitments had been made for the year and! those had to be carried out. Mi-. Wilford described the precautions the Government was talcing in. connection with Alights across Cook Strait. His department Jiad the co-operation of the Meteorological Department, and Railway Department was giving valuable assistance by means of a scheme whereby the officers at its stations on either side of the strait checked the times of departure and arrivals: of planes so that fliers were practically Tinder observation throughout the journey. It was also provided that machines should fly at a height of 6000 feet. Every 1000 feet of height allowed for a mile of glide in ease of engine failure. Ooncecpiently, the height of 6000 feet would allow for a glide aclross practically the whole width of the strait. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.