CANTERBURY AVIATION COMPANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17280, 22 September 1916, Page 8

CANTERBURY AVIATION COMPANY.

PROSPECTUS ISSUED. The Canterbury (New Zealand) Aviation Company, in the formation of which considerable interest is being taken by the public, lias been duly incorporated, and has issued its prospectus. CAPITAL AND SHARES.

The capital is fixed at £20.000, in .21 shares, payable 2s (id on application and 2s (id on allotment, balance on call. The minimum subscription before allotment is 7000 shares. Tito provisional board of directors is constituted as follows: —Hon H. F. Wigram, A1.L.0. (chairman), Colonel R. A. Chaffcy, Lieutenant-Colonel Millton, Professor T. G. Blunt. Professor It J. Scott-, Dr Evans, ilv L. AL lsitt, M.P., Mr S. u. Raymond, K.C., and Messrs Richard Allen, John Anderson, Robert Bell, A. W . Beavcn, G. T. Booth. O’. H. Hewlett. George Humphreys, H. A. Knight. C. W. Reid, W. H. E. Wnnklyh and G. Gould. PURPOSES OF THE COMPANY.

The prospectus states that the promoters of the company have been primarily actuated by the desire to help to win the war, and to defend this country in tho future. They lurthcr desire to draw attention to tho proposal as an investment, and they consider that a reasonable return on tho capital invested may be secured. The extraordinary development of ncroplaning in the last few years warrants the belief that not only will it bo a leading arm in national defence, as in fact it now is, but the dominant arm, and that commercially its future is as assured as that of automobilism or wireless telegraphy. The stability of the machine is now established, and the world’s best brains are, under tho present great stress, being devoted to aeronautics. . Already tho risk in flight is negligible, and before long aoroplaning will be as immune from danger as railway t-rav-ling or any other method of locomotion.

The purposes of the company arc to establish a school or schools of aviation in Canterbury or elscwhero in Now Zealand; to provide a tuition fleet, Hying grounds, appliances and equipment, including plant and machinery for _ repairing. and possibly later on building aeroplanes, to-train aviators for service with tho Royal Flying Corps of Great Britain, and after the war for ihe <.e-fc-nco of this Dominion, and for ever j other purpose to which aviation is properly applicable. THE NEED FOR AVIATORS.

Some misconception has arisen in tho public mind because it is known that more men are applying for admission to the aviation schools of Great Britain can, be accommodated, and that at the present time each of these schools has many names in tho “ waiting list.” The fact is that the existing training schools are quite unable to cope with the enormous demand for skilled pilots. Prcof of this is afforded by tho fact that the Royal Flying Corps is now granting commissions to graduates of tho Kohimarama School near Auckland and is so eager to obtain their services that it is paving their passages to Britain, and if, after furtlier training, they pass the final test. £75 is refunded as a set-off against the expenses incurred in tuition. Lord Montagu in a recent speech m London made a direct appeal to the overseas dominions to join in providing an Imperial Air Service. He said he hoped to sec its pilots drawn from all parts of the Empire, machines from our 'rreat sister nations, and planes building wherever the British flag floated, to help t° police tho Empire. Tho value of a school of aviation will not bo lessened after the termination of the present war. New Zealand is exceptionally Well situated for defence bv aeroplanes. It is isolated by thousands of miles from any possible hostile base --whence an aerial attack could be launched. , , An aerial fleet could he concentrated at a few hours’ notice to meet an attack at any point beween the North Cape and the Bluff. CANTERBURY SUITABLE FOR AN AVIATION SCHOOL. The chief danger for beginners lies in sudden and 'variable changes of wind. New Zealand is a windy countrv, and Canterbury no less so than other parts, but the wind on the plains, although strong at. times, 's usually constant, and, ill the opinion of such men as Professor Scott and Flight-Lieutenant Scotland, the climate of the Canterbury Plains is well suited to aoroplaning, ana obviously there is a wide extent of suitable landin or ground. The only New Zealand school is that n t Kohimarama, and that school is confined to hydroplane work in tho harbour, the ‘'surrounding country not being suited for aeroplane, work. Jbe Canterbury school would, therefore, be the pioneer school in New Zealand ioi teaching the use or the aeroplane, which is much the most important branch of aviation. New Zealand would then not- be lagging behind Australia, where there aie two flying schools—one established by the I edcral Government and the other by the Government of New South V ales. MACHINES. Th o Hon 11. F. Wigram has ordered two Caudron single scatcr biplanes with Anzaui engines at a cost of £soo each at the works, and it- is anticipated they will he shipped in tha Athenic* He has also ordered a dual control two-seater Caudron aeroplane, GO horse-power, six cylinders, for £O6O at the works. Various extras, altimeters. spare ribs, propellers and other accessories have been ordered. Mi Wigram places these machines and accessories under offer to tho company at cost price. The Caudron aeroplanes are recognised as very suitable for tuition purposes. They are used at Hendon, and a Caudron aeroplane converted into a hydroplane is in use at tho Auckland school, and is giving satisfaction. It is proposed to increase the fleet as the company's finances permit. SOURCES OF REVENUE. With three machines it is estimated fifteen pupils can be under tuition at ono time, and the period of tuition is usually about six or eight weeks. The fee charged in Auckland is £IOO, and if the British aerial authorities treat the Canterbury pupils as they have done the Auckland cars, £76 should be refunded to any qualified and finally passed airman. From tuition fees alone, therefore, there should be a good net income if, as is anticipated, sufficient pupils are available. There are other sources of revenue derivable from exhibitions, passenger fares, agencies and repairing. The future possibilities in a country like this are boundless Christchurch can lie reached from Wellington in two or three hours and very general use of aeroplanes for mail and other purposes between these two centres is possible. No profits are made by vendors or promoters, but the company is in the fortunate position of having received gratuitously from many well-wishers services such as secretarial and other work incidental to the formation of tho company, whilst tho members of the Christchurch Stock Exehango have kindly placed their service- as brokers nt tho disposal of tho company fi'co of charge. Several sites have been considered, but tho choice has not yet been made, and remains a matter to ho dealt with by the directors.