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Letters to the Editor
TASMANIA AND DEFENCE
Attitude Of Minister
Sir,-It IE now recognised that aerial
eo-ôperatlon in army or naval action;
ia riot only helpful but essential. If
then, any' defence Is provided in Tas1
mania, surely aerial defence,must taite
cither the major part (and I think it
should), or play auxiliary as the eyes
of the other services. Mr. Thorny as-
sures us that all is well and that 80
pev cent of thc defences of Australia
are mobile and can be used in Tas-
mania if occasion warrants. He does
not convince, for ho has a growing1 re-,
cord of blunderings. It was character-
istic of him to'corhment on a project
before he Í3 even presented' with any
detail of it. A truly representative
gathering of the citizens of Tasmania
made h. justified appeal to the State
Premier to have Tasmania recognised
in the aerial defence programme, only
to be called "parochial" by Mr. Thor-'
by. ... ?'. ' '
Mr. Thorby has been to Tasmania,
and I would, extend nn invitation to!
him to come again and get a better
understanding ot things. "What,''will
he the climax to the embarrassment
Mr. Thorby must be causing the.Lyolia'
Government' "His method of hand-,
ling aviation matters is farcical, as
was clearly evidenced in the flying'
boat incident at Darwin when - Mri
Thorby blamed everyone ' hut him-
self for the muddling. To top matters,,
he''eventually obtained an "impartial?'
report on .the ,whole matter from his
own private secretary!
ABRO./.
I Sir,-I was very pleased to read In
"The Mercury" of the representative
deputation which waited on. tho Pre-
mier to solicit, the aid of the State.
Government , in procuring a greater
measure of assistance to Tasmania in
relation, to flying facilities in this State.
Such assistance Is long, overdue, and
I hope that the wishes of the deputa-
tion will be fulfilled in the near future.
However, I was very disappointed'
that.there was.no representative from
the Gliding and Soaring Club of Tas-
mania among the distinguished gather-
ing;, nor was any official or member,
of the club approached with a view to
representation. Was'this an oversight,
lor did the yponsors of the-deputation
( consider that the club did not possess
sufficient status as a flying body to
he .considered worthy ot a, representa-'
tlve? " .' " " '? [ ? . ':
The ,Glldlng and Soaring Club of
Tasmania ls, recognised as a flying
club throughout the Commonwealth,
and- Is recognised by the Common-
wealth Government as the controlling:
body for this phase of flying in the
State of Tasmania. The primary object
ot the gilding club ls tb' promote and
'encourage alrmindedness in not only
the youths.of the State, but those ot
mature age as well. Some of our mem-
bers are over 40 years ot age, but are
ns keen as the youngest member.
The methods ot teaching as applied
by the instructors of the gliding club
are such that if and when a member
who has nttained a standard where he'
can fly ' solo in a glider desires to
transfer to the Aero Club ' for train-
ing on power machines, not more
than two hours should be needed to
enable . him to . be sent "solo", on a
machine such as that possessed by the
aero clubs. A pilot ot a power machine
who has had training in motorless
flight possesses great advantages over
the pilot who does not possess such
knowledge, for he knows where
treacherous air currents exist, how to
avoid being caught in downdraught^
on'the leeward side of hills'and moun-
tains, has a greater degree of judg-
ment of distance and approach, and
Is not scared should his engine "cut-
out" during flight, for he automatically
brings his gliding skill into practice.
If countries such as Germany, Rus-
sia, England, and America recognise
the value of gilding In the further-
ance of aviation, then the prejudice
shown by the aero clubs seems to be
a little childish. Gliding has come to
stay In this State, and when the club
procures the machine which they have
in mind, and which should be In Tafv
mania by the beginning of next year,
the club will begin to make itself felt
in aviation circles. With this machine,
it. is hoped that new records .at, least
for Australia will he easily attained.
We have ahvays extended the hand
of friendship to the Aero.Club, and we
are.Btlll willing to co-operate.Mn any
way not to the detriment of ' the Glid-
ing Club. ?? ?.
, * S. J. MACKEY,
Instructor. Gilding and Soaring, Club
of Tasmania. ./.'-,. ,{:;.' '{
'Slr,-Recently we had atreunion of
the Australian .Faying .Corps Associa-
tion, when- the Governor (Sir Ernest
Clark, K.C.M.G.) was present, and
stated he was in accord'wlth the forma-
tion of a: Citizens! Flying Corps, and
emphasised the necessity-ot the . Air
Force being up-to-date; as. in his opin-
ion,'the future war would.be,fought in
the air. . -..,.,'' ". '?.'.>'j';'.?'.. :> -i '?
Tasmania possesses landing grounds
and seaplane bases. No other State
can boast,of better conditions for .fly-
ing, and I vênture to say in the near
future the flying boat servlcë will make
Tasmania the final port ot call.
Let the Federal Government enable
sufficient funds to be devoted to a Tas-
manian Citizen' Flying Force-even on
the £1 for £1 "principle-and the
citizens will soon-contribute. The late
Sir Henry Jones, lt will be remembered,
d'onated an aeroplane for war purposes.
Many ex-pllots-and observers ot the
A.I.F. who are now in Tasmania will
be only" too-' glad '-'to give Jthe-boys who
contemplate taking up flying all the
assistance possible.
j - A. TYSON.
- Late Lleut.-observer, A.F.C., Hobart.
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