AVIATION AND MOTORING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1919, Page 11

AVIATION AND MOTORING.

POST WAR PROSPECTS COMMERCIAL FLYI.VG. SHORTAGE OF MOTOR C&R& A well-known Christcluirch business man, Mr. K.- is. Macdouaki, a director of the (Jhristchurch I'ress, who has just returned alter a three yearß' stay in England, had something to .say about thfc conditions in England as to aviation from the commercial standpoint. Mr. Macdonald spoke, with considerable caution, remarking that th«i cost of maintenance of war machines could not be taken as an indication of the cost and maintenance of the commercial machines of the future. It seemed to Mr. Macdonald that very grea.t improvement and many new inventions would have to be made, before such commercial work as is now imagined could be done by flying machines. "From what hj« gathered from leading experts in avia/ tion, he learned that much was expected from the development of lightei than air machines, airships of tue-Zep-pelin and non-rigid type. At present much attention was being given to the construction of such airships, especially in regard to providing for their mooring whilst afloat cither to masts on land or ships' masts, so that the airship would be fkble to ride dut bad weather. At present Mr. Macdonald said hi thought flying machines as mail carrier* would be used only in cases of emergency and extreme urgency. He questioned whether there would, in New Zealand, for instance, be sufficient'mail matter of such iimjiortanw. that th« senders of it would be willing to pay the high postage rates which wpuld be required to he charged. Few, if any, English automobile manufacturing companies, Mr. Macdonaid continued, had resumed the manufacture of cars, and, though profuse in their promises to supply, only in rare cases had those promises been realised. There were long-waiting lists, but there was little prospect of the output being ln< creased for some considerable time, In this matter the English manufacturers were not so far-sighted as their American competitors, who;- though their Works were Utilised for the production of war requirements, provided for a' quick change .over to commercial work*. There was a huge demand in England for American'cars/and importers were "rationed" and - only licensed to import about half the pre-war nuiriber, % restriction designed to give preference to the English manufacturer. As a consequence of the English manufacturers' inability to take advantage of this state of affairs, there was an enormous demand for pecond-hand cars, some ol which fetched ridiculous prices. Mr Macdonald saw cars, six or seven .vearj old that were bought second-hand for more than they were sold wheu new.