The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1913, AERONAUTICS IN NEWZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1869, 1 October 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1913, AERONAUTICS IN NEWZEALAND

The Mayor's wish was probably father to the thought when he expressed the opinion at tho meeting of the Aerial League on Monday night that Great Britain 'is in no way backward in connection with aeronautics. It is generally admitted by those in the best position to judge that Britain is not yet abreast of France and Germany in this matter, and although the Imperial authorities now appear to realise tho urgent necessity of a more vigorous policy as regards aerial defence, there is still a good deal of leeway to bo made up. The continual pressure of public opinion is required to ensure that an adequate rate of progress shall bo maintained. It may be true, as Colonel Heard said, that by lagging behind we have often profited by other people's experiments, but such a method of advance is not altogether worthy of a great nation. A progressive people should lead, not follow. It is, of course, a wise and prudent policy to avoid any mistakes which our neighbours may make, but if we are to remain in the van wo must run the risk of making an occasional mistake ourselves, -for those who make no mistakes generally make nothing. In' war and invention, as in almost everything else, brains must tell in the long run, and this emphasises the necessity, if this Dominion is to go ahead as it should do. of providing our young people with fuller opportunities for scientific research under expert guidance. It is just here that the influence of our University should make itself felt, but as a matter of fact it is at this very, poiril that our system of higher education is admittedly weak. It is, however, satisfactory to know that in the matter of aerial craft something is being done in New Zealand on the practical side—in tho building of aeroplanes—as was pointed out at Monday's meeting by the Hon. James Allen and Mr. Luke.

The various speakers dealt with aeronautics from the point of view of pleasure and profit, and' also in its naval and military aspects. Dr. Newman drew aside the veil of tho future, and showed a wonderful picture oi what may happen in the days to come. Some people may think that he gave his imagination a little too much play, but now that man has actually learned to fly, it is very difficult.to set bounds to tho possibilities of aerial navigation. That it is going to play an important part in the warfare of the future is beyond dispute, and it was mainly from this aspect that the question was considered by the Minister of Defence. Ho did not suggest that New Zealand should go in for any extravagant scheme of aerial defence, but ho congratulated the Wellington Branch of the Aerial League on its foundation, and promised that, so far as ho could, he would enoourage JtwiiUn tlwir- .work

our defence system will no doubt develop in tho course of time, but for the present more pressing matters have to be attended to. Colonel Heard made this quito clear in his speech on Monday night, when ho reminded the audience that wo have to consider our Territorials, who must learn to walk before they try to fly, and he asked for patience as regards the starting of a military aviation school. He also expressed (the hope that when such a school came to be established it would have the use of aeroplanes made by New Zealanders in New Zealand. And why not? Pioneer work in this direction is already being done, and it is quite possible that this Dominion may have some important theoretical or practical contributions to make to one of' the most brilliant achievements of the present generation—the conquest of the air. If the Empire lagged behind in the earlier stages of air navigation, British brains are now hard afc work with the object of securing for Britain the supremacy of the air in time of war.