I move:—
"That the Government be requested to have an aerial survey made of the port of Cork and its environs with the object of facilitating local enterprise in the establishment of aeroplane and seaplane bases for commercial, passenger and mail services."
First of all, I owe an apology to the House that I was not in my place yesterday to move the motion standing in my name. That was due to an unfortunate mistake on my part that I did not notice that the House was meeting on Tuesday. This subject is one that is very much before the public attention at the present time—aviation for commercial, passenger and mail services. All the countries of the world seem to be vieing with each other in formulating schemes for aerial traffic and establishing air fleets for the purpose. They are keenly endeavouring to have their respective countries adopted as international landing places. Government surveys have taken place already in the neighbourhood of Dublin, and also across the Border in Belfast, with very good results. We are all delighted with what so far has been accomplished in Dublin. There is the outstanding event that our country will ever be proud of—the successful flight from Baldonnel across the ocean against westerly winds and with which the name of Colonel Fitzmaurice will ever be associated.
In connection with such questions as this we recognise no border in Ireland. Already practical steps have been taken for the establishment of aerial landing places in Belfast. Similar steps are also being taken in Liverpool and Glasgow. So far nothing has been done in the South of Ireland in the matter of making aerial surveys or for the establishment of aerodromes or a seaplane base. In fact, we feel in a rather humiliating position in Cork. I speak here advisedly on behalf of several public boards in the South of Ireland with whom I have been in communication. We really feel a grievance in the matter, inasmuch as if a seaplane or an aeroplane or an airship should arrive off Cork harbour it would have, in the first instance, to proceed to the neighbourhood of Dublin to comply with the Customs regulations. We in the South think that that is a rather humiliating position for us to be in. We think that it eminently demands the attention of the authorities and that our paternal Government should take steps to remedy the matter at once. I submit, on behalf of our southern community, that there is no more suitable place for a seaplane base obtainable either in Great Britain or in any other part of the world than the great port of Cork affords. It is the highway between the United States and Europe. It is 350 miles nearer to New York than Southampton. I propose to give a short quotation as to what other people have said about Cork Harbour. It will carry, I think, more weight than coming from a Corkman like myself.
I take the following quotation from the British Admiralty's report on sailing directions for hydrographic office. It states: "Cork Harbour is one of the most capacious and secure harbours in the British Isles and contains sufficient space for the largest fleets to anchor in moderate depths on good holding grounds and is most effectually sheltered against all winds and seas." Moreover, I might remark that we have the advantage given us by nature of a greater depth at low water in Cork than they have in either Southampton or Liverpool. I might mention as an object lesson the advantages that the harbour has as being admirably adapted for seaplane purposes. Only some weeks ago a wealthy American coming from New York availed of the harbour. He wired to Croydon to be met by a seaplane. In about three hours the seaplane arrived in Cork harbour and met the Atlantic liner. The American was taken on board and was taken by seaplane to France. The whole thing was over in a couple of hours. I might mention also that Cork harbour provides plentiful supplies of leading lights, beacons, etc., which of course could be fully availed of for night services. As regards an aeroplane base, there are three or four admirable sites in the neighbourhood of Cork. They afford admirable means of ingress and egress, and are in touch with railway communications. We think that an official survey should be made of those sites. There is one site there on which the British Government spent no less than £350,000 in laying it out for that purpose during the war. The matter is of great urgency at the present time. I would like to emphasise the fact that there is a great deal being done elsewhere. I know that we have done a great deal in this country, but our Executive, I think, should be urged to keep up to date on this matter.
I saw in the "Irish Times" that there is a campaign going on for the provision of a network of municipal aerodromes throughout England. We are aware that London, Manchester and Leeds are actively and intensely interesting themselves in looking out for sites for aerodromes. A most interesting fact was mentioned in Cork recently by Colonel Russell, a colleague of Colonel Fitzmaurice, that no less than £14,000,000 worth of goods passed to and fro between Croydon and France and other countries in Europe in 1927, which gives some indication of the immense volume of trade. We were very much interested in the discussion which took place in this House a few weeks ago regarding the port of Galway, in which Senator Sir John Griffith, who is a great authority on ports and harbours, has taken such a practical interest. What was advocated during that discussion may mature, but it may be deferred for some years. That is a scheme that would involve a very substantial expenditure. The cost of survey would be a paltry matter, running into no more than three figures. The Minister who would be responsible in this matter would be the Minister for Industry and Commerce. I would like to draw his attention to the fact that the new Air Minister for France, who seems to be a keenly enterprising man, is submitting to the French Parliament a Bill for the coming year which will involve an expenditure on behalf of air services of no less than £2,550,000 as compared with £1,755,000 for the current year. France is linking up all her colonies by means of air services—Northern Africa, Algeria, etc., Madagascar, and even South America and Indo-China. They know the immense volume of trade that can be obtained in that way. We have always looked forward to Ireland being the gateway of Europe. I have adduced some arguments why something should be done in this matter. I hope the Government will see their way to doing something practical, as I believe there is a bright future for our country.