AVIATION MATTERS DEALT WITH BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18887, 11 October 1929, Page 11

AVIATION MATTERS DEALT WITH BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 10. The Council met to-day at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. » The Hon E. W. Alison was granted four days’ leave of absence on account of illness. METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE. The Hon G. J. Garland moved, “That m view of the vital importance of meteorology in aerial navigation (especially of airships) and also in agriculture, the Council urges the Government to take steps: (1) To ensure the teaching of meteorology in public cchools and in one at least of the University colleges, and (2) To increase the staff and equipment of the Meteorological Office sufficiently to enable it to provide a complete and modern service, particularly for aviation and agriculture, and so be enabled to devote adequate time to research into the special problems of the Dominion.” The mover said that new observation stations should be established at Campbell Island, Sunday Island and Lord Howe Island, as the commencement of a bigger scheme. The Hon J. A. Hanan opposed the motion, asking what Mr Garland would cut out of the school syllabus to make room for the new subject. The leader of the Council, the Hon T. K. Sidey, said the matter had not been overlooked in the public schools, and not entirely in the universities. The fundamentals of meteorology were included in at least two cff the degree courses. He referred to recent improvements mrKle in the meteorological service of the Dominion. The Hon G. M. Thomson expressed sympathy with the idea of the motion, but Sir Robert Stout described it as absurd, as there were not sufficient teachers to teach the subject in schools. “ Why teach children of ten years of age to become weather prophets?” he asked. The motion was carried by 29 votes to 6. LAND BILL. The Land Laws Amendment Bill was received* from the House and read a first time. AVIATION. Discussing the second reading of the Local Authorities Empowering (Aviation Encouragement! Bill, the lion A S. MalColm deprecated any move tending to increase local body rates, and questioned the wisdom of permitting local bodies to increase liabilities in that respect. If aviation were left to private enterprise it would advance more rapidly. There should be the safeguard of a poll of the ratepayers before a local body was permitted to borrow or to spend money on landing grounds. The Hon E. Newman agreed with Mr Malcolm, adding that the duty should be on the Government, not local bodies, to provide for aviation. The Hon J. Barr said the principle of local bodies borrowing without the ratepayers’ - permission already had ' been departed from in various in stances, subject to safeguard. In the present case, the resolution of the local body had to be confirmed at a subsequent meeting of which public notice had been given. The Hon T. K. Sidey said it would be admitted that every important town would want a landing ground, which must be provided either by the Government or by the local bodies. A former Air Minister at Home had declared that there was a liability on local authorities to provide landing places. The Local Bodies Loan Board would, be sufficient safeguard against excessive expenditure in cities. The Bill was read a second time. MARRIAGE. The Marriage Act Amendment Bill was reported from committee with minor amendments made by the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned at 4 p.m