The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1934. EMPIRE AIR DEFENCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19943, 30 October 1934, Page 6

The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1934. EMPIRE AIR DEFENCE.

Anthony Fokker's positive declaration that big ships are doomed, will attract wide attention, in view of the success of the Dutch airliner in carrying passengers and mails between England and Australia in the Centenary Air Race to Melbourne. “Within a few years,” added Mr Fokker, “big ships will be superseded by aeroplanes, carrying 100 passengers to all parts of the world at 200 miles an hour, day and night, and in the greatest comfort and safety. That is the lesson of the Melbourne Air Race.” Mr Fokker suggest that “it is a pity taxpayers are saddled with subsidies for monstrous ships like the Queen Mary and the Normandie. The millions of pounds spent on them ought to have been devoted to fleets of fast air liners.” In a word the bewildering progress made in the air, has literally revolutionised communication between all countries. If then, the fast flying machine is superseding the steamer in the transport of passengers and mails, how much more so has the development of air science altered the whole equation of national defence. Twenty-five years ago Bleriot performed the feat, then regarded as marvellous of flying the English Channel. The Great War then followed and gave a tremendous impetus to the development of air science. Now physical and geographical features no longer form any barrier to human intercourse, and mankind is almost equally at home in the air as he is on land and sea. His flight in the air is outpacing the birds. Over the week-end a D.H. Comet, manned by two English aviators, in a single jump flew from Australia into the heart of the Malay Peninsula —2084 miles in 10 hours! What this means in relation to the defence of the Empire is revealed in an interesting statement recently made by Viscount Elibank, in an address on Empire Air Defence: Defence of the Empire no longer rests solely upon an efficient Navy, ora strong Army. It has shifted largely to the air. There is no country in the world which is not within striking distance of another country, by a potential enemy, within anything from a few hours to a few days. The Channel has gone; the North Sea is but a stream between Europe and the United Kingdom; whilst the very Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans are shrinking as air science develops. London may be half obliterated overnight; Ottawa and Montreal, Capetown and Johannesburg, Calcutta and Delhi, Sydney and Melbourne, Wellington and Singapore, may be dealt with likewise in not much greater length of time. Lightning stroke may follow lightning stroke until within a week or a fortnight at the outside most of the principal cities of the Empire may be partially laid in ruins and many of their citizens killed or hopelessly demoralised. It will then be too late to consult effectively as to how the damage is to be made good. It is therefore interesting to mention that vigorous expressions were given in the House of Commons the other day to the regret felt in disarmament circles in the Homeland that the Government at a time when hopes of a disarmament convention were still entertained, should have decided to increase the Royal Air Force. The House of Commons, with the fullest sense of its responsibilities rejected what amounted to a vote of censure. The Acting-Prime Minister and his colleagues made it clear that none regrets the necessity more than they do, but for years they have taken risks which they are no longer prepared to accept in view of the increase in the air resources of other countries. “The frontier of England,” Mr Baldwin said, “is not now the white cliffs of Dover but the Rhine.” As a matter of fact, the frontiers of the Empire that must be held inviolate against a potential enemy stretch round the globe; hence the need for an efficient Empire air force. Human nature being what it is, instead of confining the uses of aircraft to civil and commercial purposes, has very rapidly and scientifically adapted them for purposes of war, and no more deadly offensive instrument has ever been devised than the military aeroplane. All expert advisers are agreed that the infinite capacity of the aircraft for the dropping of explosive bombs and gas, anywhere and on any place, has made it the most fearsome war appliance in the world. Having then some regard to the vulnerability of the British Empire as a whole, it becomes imperative that the defence of the Empire in the air must be considered without delay in the light of the new developments in the science and practice of aviation.

NEW ZEALAND’S FISHING GROUNDS.

That New Zealand’s waters abound with fish, and the Dominion’s territorial Ashing grounds have been endowed with great natural advantages, has again been brought to general notice. A recent cablegram from Sydney reported that another trawler is leaving New South Wales fisheries to exploit New Zealand waters. The message significantly adds that the fishing grounds around this country are regarded as having a better bottom than the grounds belonging to New South Wales. Thus,

what gives matter for thought, is not so much the question whether it is perfectly -within the rights of New South Wales trawlers to exploit New Zealand waters; but instead, considering the natural advantages of our fisheries and the potential wealth they contain, it would seem that New Zealand should be able to develop another important industry. As it is, from available statistics it is found that for the year ending 1932, New Zealand’s fish exports, including oysters, whale-oil and ambergris, totalled £54,556; whereas our imports of fish products, chiefly preserves, amounted to £81,105. Undoubtedly, there is a reason for these imports of fish products, but in the light of statistics, it would appear like carting • coals to Newcastle. Examining figures further, it is found that the quantity of fish taken from our fisheries during the year ending March 31, 1933, is recorded as 257,979 cwt., including whitebait, mussels and crayfish, and the wholesale value amounted to £316,176. No doubt, like many other industries during the past few years, sea fishing has not been over-lucrative, or perhaps, even remunerative; but that aspect must be regarded as a passing phase. It would seem that the future offers a great opportunity for the development of the fish canning and freezing industry. Assuredly, it could not be said that the State has neglected the development of fisheries, because it has taken various steps to preserve and stimulate the industry. In 1919 for instance, with the object of affording some financial relief to the industry, the Fishing Industry Promotion Act was passed. However, it is interestng to notice that very few applications for loans under this heading have been received. Again as another example, the State has, through the Marine Department, largely undertaken the control of oyster beds and generally, this control has not only been beneficial, but profitable. There should be, however, enough initiative amongst the people connected with the fishing industry, to render general State control unnecessary. What does seem necessary is a thorough investigation of possible avenues through which New Zealand fish products could be marketed. If Australian trawlers find it remunerative to fish in New Zealand waters, it should amply pay New Zealand if the fullest investigations were made of means whereby the potential wealth in those waters could be made available for local consumption and that markets be found for any surplus supplies of fish that could be converted into marketable form.