EMPIRE AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 February 1925, Page 4

EMPIRE AVIATION.

WORK OF DEVELOPMENT. AUCKLAND February .‘i. Rv.erciue to the prospects of earlv development of Empire aviation was made *• 11 tin* arrival of the Niagara from Vancouver by Wing-Commander It. Williams. Chief of Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force, who is a through passenger for .Sydney. This alert officer has just completed a special course of training during the past two years at the well equipped military and aviation colleges at Camborley and Andover respectively. He will return to headquarters at Melhourne, where lie will submit an official report to the Federal Government:. “There has been steady development of aviation in Britain and on the Continent,” said Wing-Commander Williams. “and cross-Channel and trans-Europe flights are almost as common as train services, and quite as comfortable. The London to Baris trip by air is made at a speed of about 100 miles an hour, and the fare one way is six guineas. It is ;1 well-established British service. Other British air lines flv from Loudon to Zurich,’ via Baris, Ijondmi to Brussels and Cologne and from London to Amsterdam, Hamburg and Berlin.

The outstanding impression of my comprehensive tour of Europe and North America, after completing the long course of training at Carnberloy aiul Andover, is naturally associated with aerial defence. The scope for the steady development of aviation to cooperate with the modern army and modern navy defence requirements, is not only remarkable itself, but holds promise of valuable service throughout the Empire. .Such service, of course, would be based on a citizen air force.

supplemented with efficient organisation and a practical training school. Training in aviation has been brought to a fine art in Britain, and the Air Ministry is quick and eager to encourage its development in the Domin- ' ions. The Empire is fairly well represented at the splendid training college for aviators at Andover and the Air Ministry hopes soon to have in residence there two representatives each from Australia and Canada, and one each from New Zealand and South Africa for training as instructors. It is recognised, in the Old World, that the aeroplane will become an important unit in defence, especially in cooperation with the navy for coastal, harbour and river defence. There is enormous scope for the development of this form of defence in isolated coun-

tries, such as Australia and New Zca land, where the population is relalivel, ,'una.l. “Canada is developing aviation oi the civil side in tire meantime, and excellent work is being done in tha Dominion by the use of aeroplanes fo land surveying, map-making and fores inspection. Valuable information am experience are being acquired aud Can ada is learning the art of (lying in tin practical development of aviation. “Australia's policy is sound am I * steadily progressive. It is to build up an air force of such strength as is required properly to co-operate with both ai my and navy for purposes ol defence. Progress, necessarily, m ust lie measured, but so long as it is developed on right lines the growth of aviation may be left in confidence to time. “fn regard to the development of a scheme for an airship service between Britain and Australia, the promoters are confident of success, and there is no reason for any doubt about it. Good progress is being made on airship construction and long-distance travelling will ho as practicable and as comfortable as travel, at present by train and ocean liner. Personally I look forward to seeing air liners flying from London to Australia within the next five rears.’’