AIR NAVIGATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 45, 15 October 1931, Page 3

AIR NAVIGATION

("Post" Special Commissioner).

STRICT CONTROL PROPOSED UNDER SPECIAL ACT TERMS OF PARIS CONVENTION

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Legislation empowering the Government to make regulations for carrying out the convention relative to aerial navigation signed at Paris on October 13, 1919, was introduced in the House of Representatives today. The Government is a party to the legislation and when the measnre is passed regulations on the lines of the Imperial air navigation orders will be issued. In addition to authorising the Government to give elfect to the convention, the Bill seeks to make further provision for the control and regulation of air navigation in New Zealand. Power is given for the application of the convention to internal flying and an outline is given of special provisions which may be made by general regulations. These relate to licensing, inspection and regulation of aerodromes, access to aerodromes landing places and aircraft factories, the prohibition or regulation of the use of unlicensed aerodromes and the licensing of personnel employed in the inspection, supervision, maintenance, repair, or construction of aircraft; also to the manner and conditions of issue and renewal of certificates or licenses reauired by the convention ; regulations as to the keeping of a register of New Zealand aircraft; to the conditions under which aircraft may he used for carrying goods, mails and passengers; to exemptions of aircraft flown for experimental purposes; to the prohibition of navigation over defined areas and to scales of charges at licensed aerodromes and the fees for certificates or licenses. Lighthouses and Penalties Similarly, provision will be made for the control and regulation of aerial lighthouses and aerodrome lights; for the regulation of aircraft signals and for the imposition of penalties (not exceeding imprisonment for a term of six months and a fine of £200) to seeure compliance with the regulations or the convention. Special powers are given for cases of emergency in time of war, whether aetual or immenent, or of great national emergency. The GovernorGeneral may, by proclamation, regulate or prohibit the navigation of all

aircraft over New Zealand and take possession, for the use of the naval, military or air forces, of any aerodrome, landing ground/ aircraft, plant, equipment, etc., for which compensation will be payable.. The Bill provides that no action for trespass or nuisance sliall lie by reason only of the flight of aircraft over property at a height which, having regard to all the circumstances, is reasonable, provided the provisions of the Act are complied with. Damages will be recoverable without proof of negligence, however, in cases where material loss is caused by aircraft in taking off, in flight, or in landing, or through any article falling from a machine. A heavy penalty is proposed for dangerous flying where an aircraft is flown in sucli a way as to be the cause of unnecessary danger. An offender, on summary conviction, will bo liable to a fine up to £200 or a term of imprisonment for six months, or to both penalties.

The law relating to wreck, to the salvage of life or property, and to rendering assistance to vessels in distress is to apply . to aircraft over water. Regulations which may be made for the investigation of accidents, will deal with the notification of mishap; the prohibition and control of access to damaged aircraft pending investigation, and the cancellation, revocation, suspension, endorsement and surrender of licenses or certificates. The Act is not to apply to aircraft the exclusive property of the Crown on the understanding that any of its provisions may be applied at any time by Order-in-Council.