AERIAL MAIL SERVICE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1933, 30 January 1919, Page 3

AERIAL MAIL SERVICE.

Referring, in October last, to the aerial mail service, which he proposes to inaugurate in New Zealand, Sir Joseph AVard stated that (he necessary landing places at each centre must tie strips of flat land 500 yards square, in order that the machines ipight run against the wind in any direction when rising. Gales, he said, do not 'trouble the powerful machines that are now being produced. They will fly securely in any wind, and the only obstacles that really trouble them are fog and very heavy rain. Fog and rain do not interfere with flight, Imf they complicate landings and risings, and make it difficult lor the pilot to find his way from point to point. New Zealand suiters very little from fogs, and the prevailing clearness of the atmosphere would lie a factor in favour of the aerodromes.

“I have no doubt about the financial success of the aerial postal service,” added the Minister. “The amount that we would save in subsidies, paid at present for the conveyance of mails, would more than cover interest ami sinking fund on the initial expenditure. The saving in time would be enormous. Mails would go from AVellington to Christchurch in (wo hours and alialf, and from AYellington to Dunedin in live hours.”