THE AEROPLANE GIFT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1919, Page 5

THE AEROPLANE GIFT.

NOT LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington. June 11. It is likely that the New Zealand Government will not take full advantage of Britain's oiler of one hundred aeroplanes. Expert opinion is in favor of the Dominion accepting some machines and using them as the nucleus of an air force. But unless flying is to be developed immediately on a fairly large scale in this country, the full number of machines could not be handled. During the war no type of machine was regarded as thorough up to date for more than three months. The improvement of design may not be so rapid now, and the tendency of manufacturers undoubtedly is towards standardisation. But the machines of to-day will not be modern a year or two hence, and Ne»v Zealand's preparations for the creation of a defence air force, and for the commercial use of aeroplane:, have scarcely begun. The existing flying schools could use a few of the gift machines, but not many. Before the Government can use any large number of aeroplanes, it must have flying grounds, hangars and workshops. The selection of grounds has still to be '.fade, though the matter lias received the attention of the Air Adviser (Lieut.Colonel V. Bettington). To accept the full hundred gift aeroplanes and then merely hold them in otore would be wasteful.