CANTERBURY. AVIATION COMPANY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3562, 23 September 1916, Page 2

CANTERBURY. AVIATION COMPANY.

PROSPECTUS SSSUED.

The Canterbury (Now Zealand) Aviation Company, in the formation of which considerable interest is being taken by the public, has been duly incorporated, and has issued its prospectus. ' \ Capital and Shares. Tho capital is fixed at £20,000, in £1 shares, payable 2s 6d on application and 2s 6d on allotment, balance on call. The minimum subscription bofore is 7000 shares. The provisional board of directors is constituted as follows:—Hon. -H. F. Wigram, M.L.C. (chairman), Colonel R. A. Chaffey, Lieutenant-^Colonel Millton, Professor T. G. Blunt, Profeasor R. J. Scott, Dr. Evans, Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., Mr S. G. Raymond, X.C, and Messrs Richard Allen, John Anderson, Robert Bell, A. W. Beaven, G. T. Booth, C. H. Hewlett, George Humphreys, H. A. Knight, C. W. Reid, W. H. E. Wanklyn and G. Gould. Purposes of the Company. The prospectus states that the promoters of the company have been primarily actuated by the desire to help to win ,the war, and to defend this country in the future. They further desire to draw attention to the propo--1 sal as an investment, and they consider that a reasonable return on the capital invested may be secured. The extraordinary development of aeroplaning in the last few years warrants the belief that not only will it be a leading arm in national defence, as in fact it now is, but the dominant arm, and that commercially its future is as assured as that of automobilism or wireless telegraphy. The stability of the machine is now established, and the world's best brains are, under the present great stress, bing devoted to aeronautics. Already the risk in flight is negligible, and be-, fore long aoroplaning will be as immune from danger as railway travelling or any other method of locomotion. The purposes of the company are to establish a school or schools of aviation in Canterbury or elsewhere in New Zealand; to provide a tuition fleet, flying grounds, appliances and equipment, including plant and machinery for repairing, and. possibly later on building aeroplanes;, to train aviators for service with tho Royal Flying, Corps of Great Britain, and after the war for the defence of this Dominion, and for every other purpose to which aviation is properly applicable.

The Need for Aviators.

Some misconception has arisen in tho public mind because it is known that more men are applying for admission to the aviation schools of Great Britain than can be accommodated, and that at the present time each of these schools has many names in the "waiting list." The fact is that the existing training schools aro quite unable to oope with the enormous demand for skilled pilots. Proof of this is afforded by the fact that tho Royal Flying Corps is now granting commissions to graduates of the KohimaranSa School near Auckland and is so eager to obtain their services that it is paying their passagea to Britain, and if, after further training they pass the final test, '■ £75 is refunded as. a set-off against the expenses incurred in tuition.

Lord Montagu in a recent speech in London made a direct appeal to the overseas dominions to join in providing an Imperial Air Service. He 1 said ho hoped to see its pilots drawn from all parts of the Empire, machines from our great Bister nations, and planes building wherever the British flag floated, to help to police tho Empire. The value of a school of aviation will not be lessened after tho termination of • the present war. New Zealand is exceptionally well situated for defence by aeroplanes. It is isolated by thousands of miles from any possible hostile base whence an aerial attack oould be launched.

An aerial fleet could be concentrated at a few houiis' notice to meet an attack at any pr>int between ( the North Capo and the Bluff.

Canterbury Suitable for an Aviation School.

The chief danger for beginners lies in sudden and variable changes of wind. New Zealand is a windy country, and Canterbury no less so than other parts, but the wind on the plains, although strong at timeSj is usually constant, and, in the opinion of such men as Professor Scott and Flight-Lieutenant Scotland, the climate- of the Canterbury Plains is well suited to aeroplaning, and obviously there is a wide extent of suitable landing ground. , The only New Zealand school is that at Kohimarama, and that school is confined to hydroplane work in the harbour, the surrounding country not being suitable for aeroplane work. The Canterbury school would, therefore. be the pioneer school in New Zealand for teaching the use of the aeroplane, which is much the more important branch! of Wiation. New Zealand then would not be lagging behind Australia, where tliere are two flying schools —one established by the Federal Government and the other by the Govern- j me-nt of New South Wales. j

Machines.

The Hon. H. F. Wigram has ordered two Caulron single-soater biplanes with Anzani engines ata cost of £550 each at the works, and it is anticipated they will be shipped in the Athenic. He has also ordered a dual-control twoseator Caudron, aeroplane, 60 horsepower, six cylinders, for £660 at the works. Various extras, altimeters, spare ribs, propellers and other accessories have been ordered. Mr Wigram places these machines and accessories under offer to tho company at cost price. The Caudron aeroplanes are recognised as very suitable for tuition purposes. Thoy are used at Hendon, and a Gaudron "aeroplane converted into a hydroplane* is iir nse at tho Auckland school, and is civing satisfaction.. It ia proposed to increase the fleet as the company's finances permit.,

Sources of Revenue.

With three machines it is estimated 15 pupils can be under tuition at one time, and the period of tuition is usually about six or eight weeks. The fee charged in Auckland is £100, and if the British aerial authorities treat the Canterbury pupils as they have done the Auckland ones, £75 should be refunded to any qualified and any finally passed airman*. From tuition fees alone, therefore, there should be a good net income if 3 as is antici-

pated, sufficient-npupils are available- g. There are other sources of revenue derivable from exhibitions, passenger fares, agencies, and repairing. The ■ future possibilities in a country liko this ? are boundless. Christ-church can bo reached from Wellington in two or • three hours, and very general use of aeroplanes for mail and other purposes between these two centres is possible.)

No profits are made by vendors or promoters, but the company is in the fortunate position of having received gratuitously from many well-wishers services such as secretarial and other work incidental to the formation of the company, whilst the members of the Christchurch Stock Exchange have kindly placed their services as brokers at the disposal of tho company free of charge; Several sites have been considered, but the choice lias not yet been made, and remains a matter to be dealt with by the directors.