H.—37.

The amount of traffic handled by the aeradio stations in respect of the operating companies' booking messages, arrival and departure reports, weather reports, and direction-finding messages for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1941, is given hereunder

I have, &c., J. M. Buckeridge, Acting Controller of Civil Aviation.

REPORT OF THE CONTROLLER OF AERONAUTICAL INSPECTION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1941. The Hon. the Minister op Defence. I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of the Aeronautical Inspection Division for the year ended 31st March, 1941. AERONAUTICAL INSPECTION AND, AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS. (i) Staff and Organization. During the year under review the appointment of an Assistant Chief Inspector of Aircraft was made. Arrangements have been concluded for the appointment of an Air-worthiness Officer, and he is expected to take up his duties with the Department within the next few weeks. Two Inspection Officers, for test-house duties, have been made available on loan by the British Air Ministry. They are expected to arrive in the Dominion in June this year. The operation of Tasman Empire Airways, and the increase in the manufacture of Aeronautical material in the Auckland District, have made it necessary to establish an A.LD. station in Auckland. (ii) Local Manufacture. The deterioration of the position as regards the supply of aeronautical equipment for the R.N.Z.A.F. has widened the range of parts which have had to be produced locally. Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining certain classes. of raw material, and it is unlikely that the position will improve to such an extent as to obviate the use of substitute materials and the resultant modification of design. The de Havilland Aircraft Co. of New Zealand, Ltd., commenced production of training-type aircraft early in the year, and by 31st March, 1941, has produced, with varying stages of complete manufacture, 50 per cent, of the aircraft called for under their current contract with the Government. In addition, the company has carried out the assembly of a large number of training-type aircraft received from overseas, together with conversion work on other types of aircraft, and is concurrently engaged upon the complete overhaul and major repair work on both airframes and engines for the R.N.Z.A.F. This company has also experienced difficulty in obtaining supplies of both finished parts and raw material from overseas, and it has become necessary for the Department to undertake provisioning action to ensure continuity of output. The manufacture of wooden airscrews for three types of aircraft was commenced during the year, and two local firms are now engaged in the production of this particular component. The local manufacture of aircraft finishes, referred to in this Division's previous report, has now been established, and all requirements for the R.N.Z.A.F. and the local aircraft factory are being met from local sources. • During the year, local firms have successfully carried out the manufacture of a considerable number of targets used by the Service in aerial gunnery training, and also the aircraft winches required for handling these targets.

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Number of Messages. Number of Messages. Station. Station. Sent. Received. Sent. Received. _ Mangere .. .. • • 4,623 3,976 lTokitika .. .. 3,126 6,601 Now Plymouth .. • - 7,363 8,397 Jackson s Bay .. .. 2,618 1,257 Palmeraton North .. 3,675 8,912 Christchurch .. .. 5,647 6,049 Wellington .. .. 19,401 18,668 Taieri .. .. .. 6,144 5,168 Blenheim .. .. ■■ 6,072 8,996 —— Nelson .. 7,855 12,987 Totals .. .. 69,949 84,139 Westport 3,157 2,740 1 v ' Greymouth .. .. 268 388 Grand total .. 154,088