FROM OTHER CENTRES

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 12

FROM OTHER CENTRES

PAYMENT OF HARBOUR DUES. The Harbour Boards’ Association today waited on tho H’ostmaster-Gcncral and asked that when the now contracts for mail steamers were fixed a proviso should be included for vessels to pay harbour dues the same as others. The Hon. J. B, Donald said so far as any mail contract via the Panama was concerned he would see that the steamers paid dues, but he could not see his way to make the same promise regarding the San Francisco and Vancouver services.—Wellington Press Association telegram. MR OSCAR GARDEN. Mr Oscar Garden, accompanied by Captain Haig, left Rotorua at 10.30 and circled over Gisborne at noon. They were mot by the local aviator, Mr George Nicholls, and escorted to the aerodrome, being subsequently given a civic welcome/ They will bo entertained at dinner to-night by the local Aero Club.—Gisborne, Press Association telegram. SUNDAY FLIGHTS ILLEGAL. Of wide interest to aero clubs and commercial services was the decision in tho Police Court tins afternoon of Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., that aeroplanes, piloted by men who followed aviation as their trade or calling, were not covered in the exemptions granted under tho Police Offences Act to trade on Sunday. Captain Trevor Watts White, of New Zealand Airways, was charged with Sunday trading. Ho was defended by Mr J. P. Ward, who submitted that an aeroplane was a carriage; Giving decision, His Worship said the court interpreted tho law and did not make the law. It seemed rather an absurdity that the Act allowed motor cars, railway trains run by the Government, and horse-drawn to ply for hire on Sunday, yet did not ajjow aeroplanes to ply ior hire. Although in 1927, when the Act was passed, aeroplanes were in most countries nsed for the conveyance of goods and passengers, special exemption was not granted to aeroplanes. To suggest that a plane was a carriage because it had wheels was far fetched. A conviction would be entered, but as the case was a test case no penalty would be inflicted. Security for appeal was fixed at £7 7s, and Mr Bundle said he would be pleased to state a case.

Sub-inspector Cummings said that in future directors aud passengers would be prosecuted for breaches of the Act. Mr Ward said the ruling would affect all pilot instructors and air service pilots.