COMBINED AERO CLUB

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 184, 2 May 1929, Page 13

COMBINED AERO CLUB

TWO PROVINCES AFFECTED DEFENCE MINISTER’S SUGGESTIONS Efforts are being made to bring about an amalgamation of Danuevirke, Hastings, Napier and Gisborne interests for the formation of a combined aero club. The Minister of Defence (Hon. T. M. Wilford), who returned to Wellington yesterday from a visit to the localities mentioned, informed a “Dominion” epresentative that there was a landing place at Danuevirke, another at Hastings, one at Napier (which had not been approved) and a possible one at Gisborne. After consultation with the Minister, the body of men at Dannevirke interested in aviation agreed to link up with the Hawke’s Bay Club, while the Napier Aero Club has con-cr.-red with the Minister’s suggestion that they, too, should combine with t’ e same body. Captain White, of Hawke’s Bay, had informed the Minister that it would be possible for the C..b to enter into a working arrangement with Gisborne. If that could be effected, and one aerodrome with hangars could be provided, and one big club could be formed to embrace Gisborne, Napier, Hastings and Dannevirke, it would not be difficult for aeroplanes kept at the site selected as the most convenient to visit the other ; ’.ices for instructional purposes and return to their hangars overnight. “The journey by ’plane from Napier to Gisborne should not take much over an hour,” the Minister added, “and that from Hastings to Dannevirke can be done under the hour. I did it myself.” The Minister added that he had stated at a Hawke’s Bay Aero Club meeting that before any question of assistance from the State was considered every effort should be made to get Dannevirke, Hastings, Napier and Gisborne into one club. It was quite impossible for the Government to assist four elubs of one short flying line such as that. The Minister mentioned also that he had just received the plans of the hangar erected in one day by voluntary labour by the New Plymouth Club. The hangar was designed to accommodate one Bristol, one Moth folded, and one Moth open, or, alternatively, three Moths folded.