AERIAL DEVELOPMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1919, Page 5

AERIAL DEVELOPMENT.

MAIL SERVICES LIKELY. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, July o. The study of the possibilities of aerial development in Ne\y Zealand lias been proceeding during recent months under Lieutenant-Colonel Rettington. R.FC., the Government's Air Adviser. Colonel Rettington has an .-iffice at the Chief Post Office in Wellington as well as at Defence Headquarters, and he is preparing a report that will cover aerial mail services as well as the creation of a defence flying force.

It seems certain that aerial mail services will be established in the not very distant future, hut postal officials are jiot as enthusiastic over the prospects as some of the flying men are? They predict i hat the carriage of mails by air >" going to be n very expensive matteT, and that the expense will cut two ways —it will involvp heavy direct expenditure and it will reduce telegraph revenue. The capital charges for the purchase of land, the erection of build ings and workshops and the acquisition of aeroplanes will be a verv big item. The gift machines offered by the Imperial Government will help, but it is not anticipated that they will be of use for Ion?. The development of the mail-carrying and commercial aeroplane ts now proceeding and experts believe that there will be important departures from the types that were evolved for war purposes.

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. (from Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, July 7. The Minister for Defence stated this evening that Cabinet had not come to any decision regarding the offer of the Imperial Government to give New Zealand a hundred aeroplanes The question, said the Minister, was a very difficult one, and until a policy had been laid down the Government could not make definite plans. He could not say if the offer would be accepted. The position is that the Government is waiting for expert decisions and for the experience of other countries before making up its mma about matters of aerial policy. The Ministers recognise that the aeroplane is coming, but they are not sure that the immediate acquisition of machines, particularly war machines, by the Government would be a wise step. Sir Joseph Ward has gathered somi information on the subieot. of aerial mails in Europe and the Post Office will make no move before he returns.