DEFINITE PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 59, 2 December 1933, Page 9

DEFINITE PROGRESS

New Zealand Aero Club’s Annual Meeting

YEAR’S EVENTS REVIEWED

Activities of the New Zealand Aero Club during the past year are renewed in the annual report of the c.ub presented at the animal meeting of delegates yesterday. The report stated that despite the difficulties of tl ie times, very definite progress had been made by the club in connection with the development of aviation in New Zealand, and prospects of further progress in the near future, as a result of spade work already done, were exceedingly bright. Mr. G. M. Spence, Blenheim, representing the Western Federated (Jm.l.) Flying Club, presided, and there were also present: Messrs. Spencer Mason (Auckland), J. G. Guinness (Canterbury), H. Maealister (Southland), 1. A. A. McNab (Marlborough), W. Free (Wairarapa), E. O’Dowd (Hawkes Bay), C. Weinstein (Wellington), S. E. Nielson (New Plymouth), secretary, and 11. L. Paterson (Otago). The report stated that probably one of the most important matters undertaken during the year was the presentation to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence, last November, of the aims and objects of the club, and a full statement of its ease in support of increased Government assistance to its constituent clubs. The Prime Minister later wrote stating that the Government realised the difficulties under which the aero clubs were labouring at the present time, and regretted that more could not be done for them, but that when conditions in general improved, the clubs could rely upon it that sympathetic consideration .would be given to the matter of the Government’s affording them an increased measure of support. Another matter of great importance to the aero clubs and to the development of aviation in New Zealand was the visit of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith to the Dominion, in the famous Southern Cross, last January. His flight across the Tasman Sea, on which he was accompanied by Mr. S. E. Nielson, the secretary of the club, created a great amount of public interest, and stimulated the clubs to great activity in the matter of preparation for his welcome and the reception of his machine. The aero club movement in New Zealand was initiated as a result of his first visit to these shores, but the stimulus which the movement received as a result of his second visit far outweighed, in practical Importance, that arising out of his first visit.

Mr. E. J/ Quarrington, a director of Bennie S. Cohen and Son (Aviation), Ltd., London, representing the British Aviation Insurance Co., Ltd., a combination of a large number of tariff insurance companies and Lloyds underwriters, attended the meeting to discuss the question of Insurance of light aeroplanes. It was decided that Mr. C. Weinstein (Wellington) confer with Mr. Quarrington further on the matter.

The official pageant for the North Island was allocated to the Hawke’s Bay club, and it was decided to offer the South Island pageant to the newlyformed West Coast (5.1.) Federated Aero Club.

On the ground of expense, the meeting decided not to proceed with a scheme to install a system of shortwave inter-communication between clubs. It was pointed out in a report prepared by a sub-committee on the subject that the probable cost would be out of proportion to the benefits received.