AERO CLUB IN DIFFICULTIES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26151, 29 June 1950, Page 6

AERO CLUB IN DIFFICULTIES

PROBLEMS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY From Our Own Keyorter TIMARU, June 28.

Unless some help was forthcoming in the immediate future, the club would be faced with the possibility of going into liquidation, said the chairman of the South Canterbury Aero Club (Mr J. B. Webb) to-day. A meeting of the executive had been held, and the seriousness of the financial position had been put before the members. It was realised that some reorganisation would be necessary to improve the finances of the club.

The club was formed at a public meeting in 1946, said Mr W-ebb, and two aircraft were bought with the help of debenture holders. Since then the club had continued to expand, and at present there were two Tiger Moths and an Auster aircraft.

“The main worry of the ciub over the last two years has been the substantially increasing cost of maintenance.” he said. “The aviation authorities demand a high standard of workmanship, which is quite right; but, unfortunately, the cost of doing that work is almost prohibitive. This year the Government has not seen lit to help the aero clubs in the way of subsidies, and with the Air Force policy in abeyance in the meantime, no Air Training Corps cadets are being trained. Formerly the training of cadets was a good source of revenue to the club.

“Although gifts of Tiger Moths were received by aero clubs in the Dominion, many machines were in bad condition, with the result that clubs were faced with considerable expenditure before the aircraft were made serviceable for flying. Labour costs have risen, as have the prices of parts and accessories,” said Mr Webb. Instructors’ Salaries ’ Another factor affecting clubs was the high salaries demanded by instructors. Rabbit poisoning and aerial top-dressing had risen to large proportions, and the exodus of suitable flying personnel in that direction was large. High salaries were being received for that work, and it was not to be wondered that the equal was required before instructors would take over positions with aero clubs. Mr Webb said that besides doing ordinary flying and training, the club had frequently been called on for air searches, which entailed many hours in th? air. Ambulance work was carried out. as it was realised that transporting rick people by air saved valuable time.