HELIUM IN NEW ZEALAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 10

HELIUM IN NEW ZEALAND.

That the future of trans-ocean aviation lies, with the airship wag the opinion recently expressed by the British Air Minister, and the second successful voyage of the German Graf Zeppelin affords some support of’ this theory. , The trial flight of the British experimental airship across the Atlantic is to take place soon, and from it the Ministry liopes to derive experience that will aid in the development of airships suitable for commercial purposes. Already vast improvements in design and-'construc-tion have been made. Research in regard to construction materials is unceasing, and the latest report is that the production of helium, the gas used for airship inflation, is likely to be considerably cheapened. Helium is a subject in which New Zealand is interested to some extent. Some two years ago Professor Coleridge Farr, of Canterbury College, drew attention to the importance of the supplies of helium and stated that it had been found in the vapours given off by hot springs and in outlets of natural gas in New Zealand. The lightest known element next to hydrogen and so noninflammable as to remove one of the greatest obstacles to the development of the lighter than air type of craft, the value of helium is fairly obvious, and the development of supplies in New Zealand seemed to hold promise of more than scientific interest. Dr. Farr sought to obtain from local authorities full particulars of the outlets of natural gas and hot springs with the view of surveying the Dominion’s resources. What success was achieved and whether supplies of helium are likely to prove of commercial value does not appear to be known. At present the drawback to the extended use of helium is the high cost of production. Its isolation has been perfected chemically, but the process is very expensive. The interest displayed in oversea services by airship may stimulate inquiry as to resources in New Zealand and may possibly open another source of revenue for this country.