N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17786, 10 August 1929, Page 7

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING

ENCOURAGEMENT OF AVIATION. BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE. WELLINGTON, Friday. The Minister of Defence (Hon. T. M. Wilford) moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Empowering (Aviation Encouragement) Bill. lie said certain sections would be clarified for consideration at the committee stage. Explaining the Bill, Mr Wilford said it was divided into two main parts. The first part allowed local bodies to contribute to the funds of a recognised aviation authority an amount equal to its possible unauthorised expenditure for the year. The second part of the Bill allowed a local body to make landing grounds and to maintain airdromes, either within or without its district. Permission to do so was subject to certain prescribed conditions. The Government felt there was a responsibility on local authorities. Airdromes would soon be as necessary to a town as railway stations and garages, but without proper landing places it was utterly useless going, in for commercial aviation. If something like 44 landing places could be established throughout New Zealand , commercial aviation would be something of an accomplished fact. The trouble in New Zealand was that there was almost too much enthusiasm in directions that were not practicable. Thirty-three embryo clubs had come into existence in the last six months or so, and some had since died. He believed all that was required was about eight clubs. He would would like to see one air service branching from Wellington to New Plymouth on the west, and another from Wellington to Gisborne on the east, with a centre way service from Wellington through Auckland to the north. In the South Island, areas should he defined in somewhat the same way. The Government would give up to £25 a pupil, to a limit of 20 pupils, a year to clubs for training pilots. Tiie Government desired to gel a commercial company, first-class pilots, and good ground engineers, to undertake commercial flying. Ho preferred to see one big company, which was prepared to do the job properly, rather Ilian a lot of little companies asking for Government recognition. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Coates, supported the Bill. Mr Holland said the Minister would have shown statesmanship had he recommended uie Cabinet to establish a separate Ministry of Aviation apart from the Defence Department, to control civil aviation. The Minister was actually leaving the control of aviation in the hands of private enterprise, which did not study the welfare of the nation first. Mr Holland asked the Minister to reconsider the whole basis of the Bill in order that aviation should be kept under Government control. The Minister pointed out that Government coni, cl was not possible until the whole defence system had been remodelled. He was only able to find £28,000 or £30,000 for aviation. The Bill was read a second time.

The Arm 3 Act. The Minister of Defence, replying to an urgent question, stated: “I have given some attention to the Arms Act, and I have found that some most ridiculous situations have arisen under its administration, The Commissioner of Police and I have arrived at two very important amendments which wil alter largely the scope and provisions of the Aot. I have also in mind the question whether or not the Act should be kept on the Statute Book. I will have the whole question brought up." Scaffolding Act Amendment.

The second reading of the Scaffolding and Excavation Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. W. A. Veitch. The Bill provided that a report must be made to the Labour Department officer when it was proposed to excavate to a depth of five feet or more. It also gave to inspectors the right of entry to excavation works on the same terms ,as those relating to scaffolding works. Another clause provides that a wall Bft or more in height could not be demolished until an inspector had been notified and had been satisfied as to the precautions to ■safeguard life. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. till Tuesday.