N.Z. AERO CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 115, 16 May 1936, Page 27

N.Z. AERO CLUB

WORK OF PAST YEAR

AVIATION PROGRESS

. The work of the past year and representations made to the Prime Min-' ister and the late and present Governments and the problems to be met inthe coming year were outlined by the Bresident of the New Zealand Aero Club (Mr. C. Weinstein).at the annual meeting yesterday. ■ It was pleasing'to report, said the president, that a sum of £20,000 was included in;; last year's., estimates for the Public Works Department ,for expenditure on aerodromes and emergency- landing- grounds7.,:.- ". , ? A deputation'met'the Prime Minister (thfe ,Et.-^oii.-:M.: ;j',Savage) and the Minister pJE■Defence,(tlie,Hon.,F i Jones) and' sbrQiigiit;: before/their notice a number 'of-' important' matters, including^ the advocacy of- the -establishment of xan Air Ministry, increase in the subsidy from .£4500 to £10,000, the need of a- definite .policy- regarding Government-loaned, aeroplanes to the clubs, a continuance ;of the present policy of, aerodrome development, and the advisability of an early decision asto the type of machine to be adopted for training services.' Up to the present no reply had been- received to those representations, said' Mr. Weinstciji, andhe suggested that the'importance of those matters should again be stressed: •■ ■ .-.-.- : - ;a-:-•: . The-club had been asked ;bj*' the Minister of Defence, the Hon. E. Jones, to .submit complete figures -from all the:.constituent: .clubs of the-: pupils trained arid renewals of licences granted for last year. This was done, ' and the clubs had now, received their allocation. It was interesting to note that the total number of pilots subsidised was 101, with an additional 174 for renewal of licences. There were more pupils trained than this, and more renewals, but the whole of the subsidy granted, with the exception of £20, was distributed to the clubs. The Minister was to be' thanked for seeing that the clubs received the full benefit of the amount granted. It was hoped that he would give further consideration to the request for an increase: to £10,000 in view of- the very difficult financial position of most of the clubs. . . . . " Representations were made to the Minister in connection with the unsatisfactory state of the legislation with regard to the payment of compensation by aerodrome authorities to persons building houses or other obstructions on land adjacent to aerodromes. Advice was received from the Controller of Civil Aviation that the matter of meteorological* services for aviation was receiving practical attention and permanent officers would shortly be stationed at Hobsonville, Wigram, and Wellington. ..-:.'■ Nothing further was done with tne proposal sent out after the last meeting regarding radio installation at aerodromes. It was felt that the cost was more than individual clubs could stand at the present time, and that it was a matter for the Government to undertake. , ■ ' ' ' It was pleasing to note ;thatfthe Air Pilots' Guild of New Zealand had now been incorporated. This should assist pilots,'.and also help to raise the standard of efficiency. The meeting adopted a motion that it should be a recommendation to the incoming committee that the name of the' club should be altered to the Associated Aero Clubs of New Zealand, in order to indicafe more clearly the purpose of the club, in a coordinating capacity, as between the district clubs and not as a flying club. A special committee was appointed to consider the redrafting of the rules of the club. ' ■ . . Messrs. H. J. Macalister and T. E. O'Dowd were elected vice-presidents. "Aviation in New Zealand has in the last six months lost several of its stalwart supporters and officials, and we express our grief and sympathy with the relatives of these fine men," said Mr. Wcinstein. "I refer to Air-Com-modore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Squadron-Leader M.C. McGregor, Flying Officer 'Scotty' Fraser, FlyingOfficer G....J1. Owen, aud Mr. Pethybridge. They have all in their own way done th|»r utmost to help aviation and the aero club movement, and we feel that we have lost.personal friends."