EMPIRE AIR LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 285, 28 August 1931, Page 8

EMPIRE AIR LEAGUE

Branch Formed in N.Z. To foster the development of aviation, the New Zealand Air League has been formed, in Wellington, as a branch of the Air League of the British Empire. It is anticipated that the movement win be taken up in the other centres shortly. Officers of the league are:—President, Mr. F. M. Clark; vice-presidents, the presidents of the various aero clubs; secretary, Mr. J. D. Campbell. The model aeroplane club is working in conjunction with the league, meetings being held weekly. Subscription rates have been fixed as follow, each including the badge of the Empire body: Junior members, 2/6; Model Aeroplane Club, 5/-; membership, £l. In the very early days of aviation a branch of the league was formed .in Wellington, but the public at that time was evidently not disposed to take interest in aircraft otherwise than to regard them as novelties or a spectacle. Then the war intervened, and the movement was lost sight of. ■ _ , . The inaugural meeting of the Wellington branch of the Air League of the British Empire was held in the Town Hall on September 29, 1913, and Mr. A. W. Schaef's machine was then exhibited. The then Mayor, who is now Sir John Luke, was the chairman, and the other speakers were the then Minister of Defence, Sir James Allen, the lit. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, Colonel E. S. Heard, »ct-ing-General Officer .Commanding, and Dr. New®, MA,.