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Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1926, Page 2

Tire flying feat of Captain Cobham in performing his great aerial jourin from England 'to Australia, is an instantaneous tribute to his courage and intrepidity. The successful accomplishment of the journey in the face of many drawbacks, is evidence of the real value of flying as a means of possible transport. It suggests also the further possibility of greater development as the aerial vehicle is applied commercially. For purposes of warfare, the youth who crowded into the flying corps at the time of the Great War, amply demonstrated the many desperate purposes for which aviation was adopted. There is no doubt the war period lifted the science ahead tremendously. In these days it will he sought to develop the aerial service for peaceful purposes, and applied commercially there is no reason why the new factor in transport should not do much to advance world interests gen-

orally. It i.s an arm of defence that the greater risk will be taken, both ill training young men for flying, as in the improvement of the machines for the tasks to be undertaken. Every country which has taken up flying is doing all it can to perfect its aerial force. In that effort improvements must bo brought about. The commercial development must follow, for it will not he over difficult nor over costly, to apply much of the experience gained in defence work in the air. to the machines to he used for peaceful pursuits. Wc may take it that in a very short time now the distant parts of the Empire will be covered by aerial services. Long distant flying is becoming more common. New Zealand, as was remarked previously, lias lagged behind considerably, blit something more is to he done through defence operations t-o equip the country hotter, and that will he good training for those who ultimately will be drafted into commercial pursuits. The day cannot be far distant now when the Tasman Sea will he crossed, and once the journey is accomplished, in keeping with aerial development throughout the woi-Td, New Zealand must derive benefit. We may be sure that in responsible places the situation i.s being watched closely, and that at no distant date now, the Dominion will he embraced with an air service which will supply another link of Empire to this distant outpost in the Antipodes.