MOTH FOR AUCKLAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 68, 31 December 1928, Page 6

MOTH FOR AUCKLAND

PROMISE TO AERO CLUB.

MR WILFORD'S KEENNESS. (Special to the "Guardian.") ' AUCKLAND, December 29. Safety first is the watchword of the Minister of Defence (Hon. T. M. Wilford) in his capacity of head of aviation in New Zealand. He promised a deputation from the Auckland Aero Club this morning that they should have one of the two Moth 'planes to be landed in January next, provided they had their pilot properly qualified and a competent ground engineer appointed, both of which stipulations the club undertook to fulfil. The deputation, which was led by Air Fletcher (member for Grey Lynn) waited on the Minister this morning in the Ministerial rooms at the Auckland Post Office. The burden of their request was that they should get one of the Government machines at the earliest possible moment. The Minister said it was the first occasion since taking office that lie had been called upon to speak about air matters, and he wanted to congratulate Auckland on the public spirit shown by the formation of the club. By the creation of such an organisation wars begun the creation ot that air sense without which aviation in New Zealand could never progress. Although the position as Minister in charge was new to him, he had been interested in aviation for a number ot vears, and believed he must be the oldest flying man in the Dominion, as he flew at Pan in 1912, when the record flight was from Pans to Bordeaux. Technically, of course, he would be of little value, but he was certainly keenly interested m aviation and its development. Two aeroplanes would arrive in January—two Moths out of the eight that had b<*en ordered. They were due to arrive before but he understood that the slotted win"- device had been adopted, and that caused some little delay in the delivery. Of those eight 'planes the Government was importing, four would be retained by the Government for instructional purposes, two would be handed to the Auckland Club, and two to Sockburn. It had been stated that the Blenheim Club had received some sort of preference in the way of Moth 'planes, but the fact was that Blenheim handed the money for their machine to the Government He did not see why the Auckland Club should not have one Moth as soon as they were landed, provided they had their pilot approved. Ihe nrst thing was to get their Instructors course through at Sockburn. He would be prepared, to give instructions that Maior Cooper, of the Auckland Club, should proceed to Sockburn right away in order to go through. There was a provision by which the Government would assist the clubs who purchased machines of their own, but he was sorry he would not be able to consider the machine presented to the club by the "Herald" in that light. A machine would have to be bought by the club itself. He congratulated the "Herald" on what it had done, and also wished to thank Sir Charles Wakefield, who had presented a light plane to the Government. It might be found that there were other citizens who would present machines to other clubs, and so help on aviation. Mr Wilford pointed out that the rules governing the operation of flying clubs were very strict indeed, and he made no excuse for them. Ihe first essential was a thoroughly competent o-round engineer, who must be more than a mechanic. His duties were to inspect each machine daily and more often if necessary. The whole safety of the young men who were to learn flying denended on the thoroughness with which the machines were kept in perfect condition. While he was willin o- to help the clubs to develop, he refused to bear any part in helping them to hurry on if the pilot and ground engineer were not absolutely capable. The club has a large membership, and 72 pupils are waiting for instruction.