COMING OF AIR CRAFT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 5

COMING OF AIR CRAFT.

j IN NEW ZEALAND. LEAGUE'S INAUGURAL MEETING. THE PROJECT LAUNCHED. The Wellington branch of the British Aorial League—the first formed in New. Zealand—held a very successful meoting in the Town Hall last evening. An aeroplane, built and designed by Mr. A. W. Schaef, formed an interestiiiE adjunct to the proceedings. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided, and was supported by the Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence), the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Colonel E. S. Heard (acting-general officer commanding), and Dr. Newman, who lias been largely instrumental in forming the Wellington branch of the Aviation League. The objects of the league are to encourage the invention, production, and use of aerial craft, _to spread information showing the importance of aerial supremacy, to provide facilities for practical tuition in aeronautics, and to unite all who have the- welfaro of the Empire at heart and are willing to help on the work.

Great Britain Not Behind. The Mayor, having explained the objects of the meeting, contended that Great Britain was in no way backward in connection with aeronautics. Thoy hearf a great deal about Germany, America and France, but though Great Britain may not have been in the van so far as research work was concerned she had now as many men as any other nation engaged in aviation, as there were 298 on the naval side and 682 on the military wing. The Mayor then mentioned what had been done in the matter of building aeroplanes by Mr. Fisher and Mr. Scnaef, and added that Now Zealand undoubtedly possessed young people of brains and capacity, and that thoy looked to the Minister of Defence to find tho money to encourage them.

The Hon. Jamas Allen. The Hon. James Allen, who was cordially received, at once promised to assist tho Aviation League in their work, and continued: "'This is an ago of invention in which science is used more than ever before. We Britishers have always been ablo to apply science bettor than any other nation in the world, though we have not always been able to carry out scientific investigation as well as some nations. Britain is slow to move, but she' is generally very sure when she does move, and generally catches up those who have got ahead. I believe that _ the t spirit of scientific investigation is as keen in the Britisher and the offshoots of the Britisher as it ever was, and it is gratifying to know that there are New Zoalanders who are giving their energies to tho utilisation of the powers of the air for locomotion. Not many years ago," the speaker added, "many of them doubted the possibility of locomotion beneath tho sea, a.ud it (may bo. that in years to como tlicy would find the locomotion of the air used to a greater extent than that of tho sea. i But what was in their minds that night was the use of aeroplanes for the protection of their country _ and Empire.' He had an opportunity when in England of seeing what was being done in that direction. Ho went to Hendon, and conversed with some of the keenest intellects, including Mr. Wright (who told him it was just as safe to be up in the air as on the land), and Mr. Hammel. Ho also went twice to Farnborough, the scat of the military aviation school. Ho could not agree with tho' Mayor that tho Briton was as far ahead in the science of aviation as Germany or Franco, but lie. could assuro them that Britain was not asleep, and at Farnborough ho was allowed to see tho experimental branch of tho science, which proved to him that the brains of Great Britain were being as actively used in tho development and utilisation of that science as the brains of any other nation.

The "Britannia." "As to tho machine presented to the Dominion, it had arrived that afternoon on the Athenic. It was a monoplane with an 80-h.p. engine. In accepting that gift the Government undertook a great responsibility, in the care of the machine and of those who might go up in it. That Aviation League might prepare men to use such ma.chines, and two 'lieutenants had been told off to attend the Aviation School in England. Air Chances in New Zealand. "New Zealand might not be absolutely suited for all kinds of present machines, but there was a development taking place .with regard to hydroplanes, and if they wanted to ascertain if an enemy was approaching their shores, the quickest, surest, and safest way was by the use of the aeroplane. Britishers could not afford to lag behind in that respect. He congratulated that league upon its foundation, and promised that, so far as he could, ho would' encourage them in their work. Ho hoped they would utilise all the scientific knowledge that was available, and that they would apply that knowledge with courage and discretion, and that their investigations would lead 'later to the production of men and materials which would be for the advantage of Now Zealand and the British race.

Golonel Heard—An Interesting Speech. Colonel Heard remarked that it had often been stated that Great Britain was behind hand in war inventions. Tliey were not the first in the matter of magazine rifles, submarines, motor-ears,' or aviation, but by lagging behind they profited by other people's experiments, and always caught up in the long run. Whatever , mechanical device was invented it was used in war, and aeroplanes would undoubtedly bo useful in such an event. Previously information could only be gained by cavalry, whose horses could only cover a certain distance daily, whereas with an aeroplane tliero was no such limit. Tho successful nation would depend upon the nerve and dash of its aviator, and they found that tho British temperament was ahead of other nations in that respect. If they could lead on the sea they must lead in the air, and thoy all looked forward to the time when their aeroplanes would be as locusts in tho air. In Now Zealand, however, they had to consider their Territorials, who had yet to learn to walk, much less fly, so ho asked their patienco if they did not start a military aviation school. Their v/eathor conditions varied, too, and occasionally they had high, irregular, gusty winds, which did not conduce to aviation. Thoy would have to consider very carefully whether they had their school on the plains of Canterbury or up north. There was much misapprehension about aeroplanes dropping bombs, hut he would remind them that aeroplanes would no more waste bombs on unprotected towns than did warships, and also that they would have to risk being hit by projectiles when flying at a low altitude or spoil their aim by living at a high altitude. Ho hoped that when the time enmo for the military school to bo put into practice thoy would have the use of machines made bv New Ze.ifanders in New Zealand.

An Aerial Mail Sorvlce. Dr. Newman remarked that all his relations mid friends in England wore taking a great interest in aviat'on, and lie was convinced that tho was

not far distant when in commerce and trade, especially in the l'ost Ullice, aviation was coming to the front. The French Government was spending a million on aeroplanes, and the uermau Government £bUU,UOO, and he believed when all that experimental work was done they would find aeroplanes used more in trade and commerce. When they found an aviator doing 140 miles i'l 100 minutes it would soon be only a pleasant trip from Wellington to Sydney. As regards the carriage of letters by aeroplane thoro would oe 110 rivers to bridge or tunnels to negotiate, and mails would no doubt soon be carried through the air between Wellington and Auckland. It was said that peopio would soon travel by air from America to England and therefore it, would only be a small trip to Sydney from Wellington. Ho did not believe they were going to send frozen mutton irom iS'cw Zealand to England, but he did beliove that passenger traffic would soon be established all over the worid. Their letters to England were zig-zagged 13,000 miles by different routes, but, when they had a lino of aeroplane's their letters would go direct and all the distances would bo much shorter. Ho quite believed that most of those present would see tho carriage of mails by air, and if, after four or live years' experiments an aeroplane could take up tour passengers, they would soon be able to take up many more. He looked forward to aeroplanes having a great and beneficial effect in commerce. He hoped tho peopio of New Zealand would encourage that league by their subscriptions. Wellington was the first in the Dominion to take up aviation and ho hoped that meeting would have a good result, as subscribing to that league was much better than spending their money on picture shows.

Sir Joseph Ward. The Right Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, who had just,arrived, was next called upon, and at once expressed his belief that aviation was going to be of great value in connection with the military and navy, but he did not think that it would be of much use in the commercial world for some time. It was in that direction that New Zealand would look to those who wero going to popularise aviation. Until some genius discovered a safe method of jumping clear of an aeroplane when 3000 i'eet up and coming down safely, they had a mighty poor chance of being very successful under existing circumstances. An aviator could on a fine day flv 200 or 300 miles, but the rigidity of the present machine was against much progress. However, a Nelson gentleman in America had invented a flexible machine which would give the occupants a chance of saving their lives when somersaulting, side-slipping, or coming down the wrong way. Tho ordinary flying machine would be very risky for ordinary purposes, and only men of daring would attempt to make long journeys on windy days. People in New Zealand should show their support by assisting tho aviation leagues in the various centres, and the Minister of Defence should, on his part, persuade the Government to hold out a material inducement to help men w-lio were spending timo and money in experiments. In England there wero hundreds of peopio prepared to provide money for men who would turn out machines, and test them, and New Zealand must not remain behind., so the men who were responsible' for the control of the defence of tho country should be as progressive as any other part of the world. On behalf of tho State lie asked them not to allow all tho passengers to travel in tho air, as in that event tho railways would go bankrupt, whilst tho life insurance companies would do a roaring trade. From what he had seen in England ho was convinced that it was possible for men to fly from New Zealand to Australia, but they required a wireless instrument on board so as to keep up comimiication, and the capability- of descending for fresh petrol. It was no use having ono machine in Wellington, however; they wanted others in various centres. If he had the opportunity he would send Mr. Allen and Dr. Newman up first, and would go up himself afterwards. • A voice:-What about Mr. Masscy!* A Playful Challenge X Sir J. Ward: He and I are going to remain on terra firma a good bit yet. Continuing, tho speaker expressed his f ilea sure that tho promoters of that eague wero in earnest, as he was convinced that they had as capable and daring men in New Zealand as in the older countries, but they must exerciso caution. He was ready to co-operato in that movement, and he would challenge the Mayor to fly with him across tho harbour or across tho Strait. The Mayor: You have been up _ already it would be a big handicap for me. Sir Joseph Ward and the Mayor then shook bands, and several peopio exclaimed "It's a bet!" but "His Worship explained that Sir Joseph Ward wished to leave the meeting, itfitl they wero merely saying "Good-night," not. ratifying >the bet. Mr. Fisher and Mt. Schaef were then invited on to the platform, and introduced to the audienco by the Mayor, who remarked: "You have the material in these young men t-o build machines to fly not only round New Zealand but round the British Empire." A number of most interesting kincmatograpli pictures were then shown on the screen ' depleting aviators and different types of airships and aeroplanes. .