AIR TRAINING

Evening Star, Issue 25776, 26 April 1946, Page 10

AIR TRAINING

STATE ASSISTANCE TO CLUBS INADEQUATE POOR SHOWING 'LONGSIDE AUSTRALIA (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Apt. -25. The opinion that the aero club movement in New Zealand was being severely handicapped by the Government's failure to agree to pay the clubs a subsidy is expressed by the Royal New Zealand Aero Club in a statement issued to-day. The statement says that the Government should recognise the right of aero clubs to a subsidy, if only because of the value of the movement as a defence measure. On the outbreak of war in 1939 the clubs had put at the. disposal of the Government all their aircraft, and many, club pilots and ground-crew members had volunteered for service, the statement continued. Had it not been for that assistance, the Air Force would not have been able to make the rapid progress it did in the first 12 to 18 months of the war; With increased wages, the introduction of the 40-hour week, and other factors which -would increase operating costs, it would be impossible, the statement said, to provide flying facilities at the same cost as before the war, even if the same assistance were given. The result would be that many young men woukl be unable to learn to fly, and those already trained would be unable to keep in practice. From a national point of view, this : would be a serious loss. Before the war, aero clubs had also served a useful purpose in keeping the public air-minded. To continue this service, clubs must be able to keep the cost of flying within the reach of the young man, and this could not be done unless assistance from the Government •were received. In Australia the Government had undertaken to pay subsidies to the associated Australian aero clubs on the following basis:—(a) A bonus of £SO for each ab initio pupil who obtained a private license; (b) a bonus of £lO for each A license renewed on club aircraft; (c) a maintenance grant of £25 for each completed period of 50 hours flown by club aircraft with a maximum of 200 hours a year for any one aircraft. In addition the Department of Civil Aviation was authorised to increase items (a) and (b) to £6O and £l2 10s for licenses issued or renewed in country centres if justified. The Australian Government had also undertaken to provide hangar accommodation for subsidised clubs free of charge wherever such was available. The statement added that the New Zealand Aero Club also considered that clubs should have restored forthwith the right they had before the war to operate taxi services, and ambulance services. The greater part of this work before the war was carried out by the clubs.. The 1 appeared to be no legitimate reason why they should not provide the public with a similar service to-day. It would not deprive the airways companies of business, as the services.were normally operated over routes and at times for which the companies did not cater. '