AERO CLUB MOVEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 112, 14 May 1934, Page 10

AERO CLUB MOVEMENT

MR. ULF/T'S ADVICE

TRAIN A* JD EDUCATE

Mr. Ulm made : some interesting comments in conv'c rsation with a "Post" reporter this a lorning concerning the aero club move meiit in Australia and New Zealand.

Most of the clubs, ho said, had experienced a ye ry lean time during tho depression, bur t a definito improvement was at last 0 .otieeable, particularly in the matter cd ; membership.

The New | South Wales Aero Club, whoso aerodr> ome is at Mascot, now has a membership j of approximately 750, he said. "This is probably tho biggest aero club v 1 Australasia, and I was very happy to be the bearer of a goodwill messa/j 3 from the manager of the New South Wales Club to the president of tho Wellington Aero Club," said Mr. Ulm, J "and I would like to- tako this opport unity of congratulating the Wellington Club on its efficiency and on the prt )gress niado in the development of t' ho Rongotai Aerodrome.

"We in' Sydney arc very proud of our club , with its comparatively largo membcrf'q ip, but taking into account. the rclati vo populations of Sydney and Wellingt* in, your club has put up even a better showing than the New South Wales Q mb, as-I understand you havp

between two and three J umdred members. This for a city vi ith the population of Wellington isj a remarkably stout effort and reflect! 3 great credit on the general managed nent of tho club. TWO MAIN OJ 3JECTS. "I consider that tb 0 aero club<* throughout New Zealan d are doing yeoman service for aviation in. the development of aerodromes and fostering the spirit of air-n lindedness, apart from the training of pilots," said Mr. Ulm. "The going is sometimes hard and possibly aero cf übs may not get many thanks for tho: ir enthusiasm, but they arc doing a wort .h-while job. When Sir Charles Kingsfp rd Smith and I first came across f ho Tasman facilities for aviation, ox cept in one or two centres, wcro rudir lentary, if there were any at all. ' Now, New Zealand has many good a crodromes and is thinking of still 1> otter aerodromes, aa will be required w hen regular services come, and not so far in the future, either. The aero clubs can claim a very big share 0 £ the credit for the progress that h.-v 3 been made.

"Moro than thj it, aero clubs all over the Dominion ha' ye caught the interest of the public. Personally, my belief is that that asp oct is as important as the training of pilots," .'continued Mr. Ulm. "Aviatioi i is bound to go ahead, but it cannot go ahead unless the public, and not nu rely a few hundred enthusiasts, are interested. That is an aspect which has been: emphasised iv Australia aga? n and again, and, I am very pleased to see, is not overlooked in Now Zeal a nd.

"The aero club system in the Dominion, of h. aving several small clubs in each prov inco in place of one, largp central clulj ) has much to rccommeii'l it, in that flying is made easier for enthusiasts,; and particularly in that the people : in each city and town have a daily int crest in aviation.

SCHOOLS TOR PUBLIC THOUGHT.

"No do übt tho same criticism is mado of aero clubs in New' Zealand as was rii ado in Australia: that public money s'n ould not be spent in setting up schpiji1 ls; for the training of pilots. That is :■ tho. narrow view; aero clubs are .as much schools for public thought' as they arc schools for pilots. While « rubs continue to work along thoso (Tvual lines, then they are doing their -w 01k most effectively and from their w ovk New Zealand in the end will be a s übstnntial gainer. "I li avo brought oflieial greetings from £ .ustralian airmen and their State and el' ub organisations. May 1 add my own j ;ood- wishes to club friends in AVelHi tgton and elsewhere and hopes for t;l 10 continued success—even if it does not show in balance-shont results —of their enthusiastic work.?"