Aviation Pioneer Revisits N.Z.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29697, 15 December 1961, Page 21

Aviation Pioneer Revisits N.Z.

A man wtio was reujxtns.oie for much of the development of civil and military aviation in New Zealand during the early 1900’s left Christchurch for Wellington this week after spending nearly a mooto touring the South Island. He is Mr S. Grant Dalton, of Exeter. Devon. Mr Dalton was bc.n at Bjirnemouli in 1886. and - was educated at Uppingham school and Sandhurst Military College. He served in the Yorkshire Regiment in 1914. transferring to the Royal Flying Corn af'.e- he had been wounded at Yores - in 1915. He first came to New Zealand in 1929 as Director of .Air Services, and it was aiH-ing this time that he did , much for aviation in New - Zealand. • Mr Dalton, by then a wing commander, assisted in the - formation of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and also in the formation of several aero clubs. About 1931 be was instrumental in the forr nation of East Coast Air- . ways, and was appointed . c hairman of directors of the company after his retirement from his position as Director of Air Services. On April 16, 1935, two-way daily air services between Napier and Gisborne were inaugurated wish two twinengined aircraft. Union Airways took over the East Coast Airways service in 1938. by which time the aircraft of the company had covered more than 400.000 miles and carried 14,723 passengers. During toe early 1930'5. Wing Commander Dalton, who was known to most of the aviation pioneers of the day as "G.D.,” also examined flying pupils for their “A” licence. L. White, in his book. ” Wingspread,” the history of

aviation in New Zealand, says of Wina-CotnnMnder Dalton at *Hh time ”... pt,, gt-uff manner was habitual, but underneath he had a very bumao understanding of young piloto. His sense of htxrmur too, was a most lovable trait, end he not infrequeoXy referred to his wooden leg, a souvenir of toe First World War, as hie ‘undercart.’ ” Wing Commander Dalton returned to Britain to 1932 for a year, coming back to New Zealand ia 1933 and remaining fo- two years. During Ims time in New he lived in many Places, inckidtng Geraldine and Lower Hub.. When he returned to Britain be joined toe Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and was later responsible for units of the reserve in London, Cambridge and Exeter. The country had changed a great deal since he saw it last, he said, and everything had grown. Before coming to the South Island he and his daughter, who is travelling with him. had spent a month touring the North Island. In toe North Island they will slay with friends until they leave for the United Kingdom at toe end qf February. The hospitality of New Zealanders was still toere. but it did not surprise him because he knew it of old, Mr Dalton said. When he attended toe passing out parade at Wigram yesterday he had been very impressed.