"MISTRESS OF THE AIR."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 794, 18 April 1910, Page 8

"MISTRESS OF THE AIR."

LOED MA YOB OP LONDON'S HOEBPOE EJKSLAND. THE CHT AND AVXAHQii. ."Science is getting almost too' moeh fla us. lie tuna is coming when 6hips will be practically useless. I eipact in a w years time" battles will be tought not oa to " a up in the S&" & spoke the Lord Mayor o£ London, Sir John li-mli, at the Drapers' Hall rein _ presiding over an influential meeting of city men. convened by tha Aerial; League of the British Empire. Ine league now seeks funds' to establish a .National institute, of . Aeronautics, wnere constructors and- pilots of dingibles and aeroplanes may be 'trained both theoretically and practically, and wHere- inventors may be encouraged'and insisted. I'o this end .£SOOO has, it was announced, already been subscribed. To enlist the'iinancial iaid of the "hnb of the was -ths- purpose of tha -meeting. . - . It has become .highly/important, do. clared Captain Caye-Brown-Uave, RH, chairman .of the - executive romznittee ot the,.league,: "to 'compile -^4ilix^ a dir^iiosa % ' tor airships similar to those in use on the . sea. : . .The other day, talking, to the' ofceer who is to command the new naval dirigible, I.asked:- r \Vliat<are you in need of most?' He answered: 'A book of aenal directions for navigation, over-this country/ We are now compiling? date ior such a book."

. The Duke of/Argyll moved'a resolution approving the,object of the Aerial League in securing a foremost place in the command of the air as being of vital importance to the commerce and defence of this Umpire, and' advocating the .'founding of a National Institute of • Aeronautics. "Foreign countries," said the duke, "recognise aviation as a matter of State importance. So .raust we. They subscribe large sums'for the encouragement of inventors. So must we."lf we are to keep abreast of other nations in this -new scienoe, which ■ has .infinite possibilities, we- must hare, trained men for aerial work. And to obtain these men we must ■ subscribo money. Personally, I favour the giving of. prizes for results. "Let Loudon contribute money so that aviators may be offered more prices .for speed, distance, • and altitude.'" . "•

: "We have admittedly.been behind," ob-' served Mr. E. B. Frost, president of the Aeronautical Society, in seconding the resolution, which was carried. "But lit is not altogether a bad thing to follow a leader, over uncertain ground. Wo -have lagged in "aviation, but we can regain, our supremacy with ease if apathy is swept away.' ' .

"England wants''flying machines;. ; she need not go abroaid for them," declared Sir Hiram Maxim, with energy. "We have all the machinery we want, all th« skill, and :d1 the intelligence too. Today nothing but the want of money holds us back., All you have to do, if "you want to place Ungland in the forefront, is to put your hands in your pockets and work." . ' ■

"In a few years' time—perhaps in three or four years, or maybe in eight or ten— we shall havi the perfected Hying machine," affirmed Major Baden-Powell. "If we intend to be well'to-the fore then, we must begin earnest work now. Inyentors ..with good designs' should bo given the money, if they have not got it, so that they may build'experimental machines." "Looking into the future," observed Sir Charles Euan-Smith, humorously, in proposing a vote of thanks to Sir John Knul for presiding," "I see. the■, Lord Mayor's procession gliding smoothly, through the air, instead of passing along the streets, with countless thousands gazing upwards. I quite understand the Lord Mayor's interest in aviation.. Ma hopes' that, it will relieve the congestion of the streets." "I am afraid," retorted the Lord Mayor, in responding, "that flying machines will not relieve street congestion. For instance, at a Lord Mayor's Show in the air spectators would not be content to remain in tho streets below. There would soon be a crowd up in the air." Then, becoming serions, Sir John summed up the''meeting with ' the words: "England is mistr-jss of the 6eas;. the must be mistress of tho air as well."