H.—37.

In addition to the item for landing-grounds (No. 3 above), there also appeared on the vote for Maintenance of Public Works and Buildings the sum of £350,000 for aerodrome work, of which £70,000 was for Air Force aerodromes. Allocations to civil aviation were as follows :— £ 1. Civil aerodromes and emergency landing-grounds .. .. .. 175,000 2. Maintenance of emergency-landing grounds .. .. .. 17,500 3. Radio facilities for aerodromes .. .. .. .. .. 52,500 4. Landing-grounds, aeradio and meteorological facilities in New Zealand Pacific Island dependencies .. - .. .. .. 17,500 5. Other aerodrome and air-route facilities .. .. .. .. 17,500 The vote for civil aviation has, with three exceptions, increased progressively from year to year, and for the purposes of comparison the actual amounts voted and the amount expended are shown hereunder :—

Agreements, Conferences, and Committees. Airworthiness Certificates for United States Aircraft. The negotiation of an agreement with the United States Bureau of Commerce with regard to airworthiness certificates for American aircraft was interrupted on the reorganization of civil aviation administration in that country, but it is now anticipated that finality will be soon reached. Meteorological and Radio Facilities for Trans-Tasman Service. In December the Controller of Civil Aviation and representatives of the Meteorological Branch of the Scientific and Industrial Research Department and of the Radio Section, Post and Telegraph Department, attended a conference held at Melbourne to discuss with representatives of the Commonwealth Government the provision of the meteorological and radio facilities necessary for the trans-Tasman service. Suitability of Wellington Harbour as Marine-aircraft Base. A Committee was set up to consider and report on the suitability of Wellington Harbour as a marine-aircraft base. The Committee reported that it would be unwise at present to attempt the regular operation of flying-boats from Wellington, but expressed the view that, due to the rapid development of flying-boats, the time may not be very far distant when they may be able to operate under weather conditions such as are met with in Wellington Harbour. Extension of Rongotai Aerodrome. Extensive investigations have also been made by a Committee set up to consider the improvement of Rongotai Aerodrome. The recommendations of this Committee, which set out a scheme of improvement by progressive stages, are at present under consideration by the Government. Licences and Certificates. For Personnel. Licences for the following personnel are issued by the Controller of Civil Aviation under the Air Navigation Regulations : — (1) Pilots — (a) " A " (Private). (b) " B " (Commercial). (c) Instructors. (2) Navigators : Ist and 2nd Class. (3) Ground Engineers : In five categories, A, B, C, D, and X. Certificates of Competency to cover the duties of aircraft radio operators are at present issued by the Post and Telegraph Department, but in order to comply with the requirements of the International Convention for the Regulation of Air Navigation arrangements are being made for the issue of Aircraft Radio Operators' Licences by the Controller of Civil Aviation to applicants who have passed the technical tests required and who are also able to comply with the conditions of the Convention as regards medical fitness and air experience.

8

Year. Voted. Expended. £ £ 1929-30 .. .. .. 7,300 7,532 1930-31 .. .. .. 7,600 7,057 1931-32 .. .. .. 2,200 2,093 1932-33 .. .. .. 4,750 4,243 1933-34 .. .. .. 7,250 1,813 1934-35 .. .. .. 14,850 11,316 . 1935-36 .. .. .. 20,014 13,171 1936-37 .. .. .. 21,914 21,802 1937-38 .. .. .. 42,234 35,490 1938-39 .. .. .. 50,871 46,031