AERIAL LEAGUE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1862, 23 September 1913, Page 6

AERIAL LEAGUE.

THE INAUGURAL MEETING,

Tho Provisional Committee of tho New Zealandi branch of the Aerial League of tho British Empire is issuing invitations to the branch's inaugural meeting at tho Town Hall- on Monday evening.. Tho. Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) will occupy tlio chair, and' tlio speakers will incluao tlio Hon. James Allen (Minister for Defence) and) Sir Joseph ward (ex-Ministor for Defence), both of wliom have rcoontly visited > the Ola Country wid haro takou n.ti mtorost 111 the developments of air-craft. Bo tarlittle has been done in this part of the world. 'Elioso who have attempted to "float upon tho bosom of tho air liavo only been partially successful, whereas at Homo, on tho Continent, M l "' 111 America now aeroplanmg achievements are recottiedl almost daily. In referring to the league and its anticipated work, the Mayor stated thaj tho leacuo would embody m its objects a provision which would encourage tlio Btnidv of aeronautics, aiid any P"ticiUor skill*would not go unnoticed. Tho tiovemmcnt had already been presentea with a fmo aeroplane, whioh was to to placed at tho disposal of tlio Defence Department. Its caro and use would require skilled attendants as well as a pilot of cxporionco. Thesowould.aotas a nucleus of on Aerial Brigade for the Dofeiioo Force. It was too. soon, perhaps, to speak of establishing aerial corps Uv the other oontres, but the} oould at least establish branches of tho leaguo. The.ro was now, of course, no doubt that aeroplanes and airships would figure heavily m the warfare> ot tho future. Mr. Luke did not know how far tho Minister for Dofonco-was prepared to go in the matter, but, no big undertaking was likely to. tempted at first. Tho whole thing was necessarily something which wouldl lia 0 to bo developed from email beginnings.