MAILS BY AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1929, Page 8

MAILS BY AIR

U.S. SERVICES PRAISED. CAPTAIN BA PLOW’S IMPRESSIONS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 25. “Air ports must be made and every small town in New Zealand would be well advised to put aside a piece of land 'for that purpose. There is not the slightest doubt that in the near future commercial flying will beat the motor and the. railway for mail carriage. At least, that is the opinion expressed in America to-day. You can get any amount of money in that country for commercial flying, and their night flying services arc wonderful.'These remarks were made by Captain Aj. Barlow, of the New Zealand Air Force, who returned hy the Aorangi 'from America. Captain Barlow left New Zealand in November last t n attend the International Civil Aeronautic Conference, which opened in Washington on December lltli. There were representatives of 47 countries present. Every phase of commercial aviation was discussed, and the visitors were greatly impressed with the tremendous strides made by night flying in the States air service mail traffic to and from Chicago, which was now the second largest flying field in the world. It was a wonderful spectacle to watch aeroplane after aeroplane swoop down on the brilliantly lit aerodrome between 5.30 and 8 o’clock ii the evening. As a matter eff fact, according to Captain Barlow, the Americans have got night flying almost down to perfection. To assist the scr vices beacons to guide the flyers hav been erected at distances about P miles apart right across the Continent There are emergency landing field always prepared for night and day des cents.

Captain Rarlow was enthusiastic concerning the possibilities of aeria mail services in New Zealand. He said that in the very near future there would he an aerial mail service from Invercargill to Auckland and most of the smaller towns in the Dominion could he profitably served in a similar manner. Aerial postage rates in America were about double the ordin ary charges, but pearly everyone appeared to use the air post. The profits were there. A single-engined machine about the size of the Gloster Grebe units of the New Zealand Air I'orce would carry a useful load of 25701 b.. using ten to twelve gallons of fuel an hour.” “ Many new and up-to-date seientifr devices had been, and are being, invented, which will make flying as saf< as travelling by motor or by train,” Captain Harlow said.