FLYING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20151, 21 May 1928, Page 9

FLYING

LACK OF FACILITIES THE POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND Unrl-er the auspices of the Howard League of Pcnid Reform, an exceed ingly interesting address on aviation was given to the inmates of the Waikcria Borstal Institute recently by Mrs Maurice Hewlett, widow of the famous English novelist. Mrs Hewlett was one of t.he pioneers of aviation and aeroplane construction in England and holds the distinction of being the first British woman to secure a pilot’s certificate. The address dealt very largely -with the difficulties experienced in the pioneering days of aeroplane construction, the speaker contrasting the harsh conditions then with the comparatively comfort blc ones of to-day. Early H a rdrliips. In the early .history of aeroplanes, knowledge had to be acquired by experience and those learning to fly underwent many forms of personal discomfort and hardship. The young men invariably slept in aeroplanes, lived; on tea and smoked innumerable cigarettes. They worked all hours of the day and night, often rode or walked long distances in order to obtain their Hying lessons before or after their ordinary day’s work. Mrs Hewlett and her partner opened the first aeroplane works at a time when little or nothing was known in England of this new industry. The business gradually developed until, during the war, 7000 hands were employed, half of whom were women and girls. The lecturer entertained her audience with innumerable stories of incidents of the pioneering days and spoke affectionately of the staffs who had worked under her. Men and women who did not mind how long they worked, but who never eased up until their job was done. They realised that the lives of the fliers depended upon absolutely faithful work m every detail of construction and- no thing was skimped and nothing left to chance. Mrs Hewlett who was personally acquainted with most of the famous English and French aces told her audience a couple of engrossing flying stories which she obtained from tne 1 fliers’ own lips. She deplored the lack of interest in flying in New Zealand and said she would continue to urge the establishment of many centres in the Dominion where men and women could learn to fly. Counter Attractions New Zealand had many thousands of splendid young men who drifted to the harbours for their pleasure and took up yachting and launching. They knew the harbours and the coastline and the winds and tides. It was very essential that fliers should be trained in their own country, and with tine groat knowledge and experience of which she had spoken, these young men should make splendid pilots. It might be too expensive to maintain a large staff of pilots solely for defence purposes, but they could be utilised for commercial flying and form a reserve upon whom the country could fall back in case of war. She had discussed the matter with the Prime Minister, sfr Coates, who had said the country could not afford to purchase a lot of machines which would quickly become obsolete. ’J’liere might be some logic in this, hut it must not be forgotten that while machines could be purchased at any time, pilots couicl not. Pilots hhd to be trained and it was very essential they should bo trained in their own country. Tne lecturer added that now she had ta?cen up residence in New Zealand, she would not cease to urge the need •ir adequate facilities for training New Zealanders to fly.