Aerial Surveys.

Progress, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 1 October 1922, Page 30

Aerial Surveys.

THEIR USE IN NEW ZEALAND. A case IN point. Shortly after the publication in Progress of a special article on the value of aerial surveys in such a partially developed country as New Zealand, Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East), raised the question in Parliament. Dr. Newman asked the Minister of Public Works:—Whether he will have a survey made by aeroplanes so as to quickly ascertain the best route for a railway across the hills, from Wellington City to Wairarapa and thus obviate the present tedious delay

The Hon. Mr. Coates (Minister of Public Works) replied:—'The making of an aeroplane survey would not quickly ascertain the route for a railway across the hills. All that is possible from an aeroplane survey is to get a general idea of the country—sufficient, in many cases, to rule out as impracticable many routes which might otherwise be surveyed in detail—and to indicate what route should be further investigated. Had an aeroplane survey been made prior to 1896 a good deal of exploratory work might have been saved, but this work has all been done, and that at present being done is detailed work in order to obtain reasonably accurate estimates of the cost of the various possible routes.