AVIATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1929, Page 7

AVIATION

RIOI’S PROGRAMME

(By Cable—Press Assn—Copyright.) LONDON, December 2. Messages from Australia suggest the story that RlOl is flying thither in the Spring is unfounded. The official facts are that no programme has been drawn up for Empire demonstration flights. DOMINION APPRENTICES. * WELLINGTON, December 2. It is officially announced that as a result of the recent applications and examination of candidates for vacancies as aircraft apprentices in the Royal Air Force, two appointments have been approyed. The successful candidates are Terence E. Boyle, Broadway North, Stratford, and Deryck Milne, Wood Street, Papakura, Auckland, both of whom are just turned 16 years of age. Milne will be leaving for England by the Rangitikei in a few days, and Boyle’s passage is being arranged. They take up their duties in England >. early in the New Year, and the apprenticeship is for three years. They receive wages of 1/- a day up to 18 years, and 1/6 over 18, and at the end of their apprenticeship qualify to become air craftsmen.

F. A. Cramp, of Auckland, was the first New Zealand apprentice, and he went forward in August. The next examination for entry for R.A.F? apprentices will be about the end of April next year, for which applications close at the . Defence Headquarters, Wellington, about April 1. NEW ZEALAND DEVELOPMENTS. WELLINGTON, December 2. Wing Commander Grant Dalton, Director of the N.Z. Permanent Air Force, and of civil aviation, proposes to visit the headquarters of some of the aero clubs in the North Island this week, travelling by car. '’ The Director stated to-day that aero clubs were springing up all over the country. As soon as a club is recognised by the authority of its district it can proceed to raise funds and secure a ground. “There was a point which would soon have to be thrashed out,” said the Director. These clubs would have to.be formed into groups for they could not expect a subsidy and assistance for each and every club as it was formed. For instance, there were two or three clubs in Canterbury but the subsidy of £5OO a year was the maximum antount for that or any other district, no matter how many clubs there were. . So far as Wellington was concerned, commercial aviation would continue at the airport at Lyall Bay, but. the Wellington Aero Club would probably go to Gear Island for training purposes as soon as the negotiations to that end were completed.

MCWILLIAMS’ RETURN. WELLINGTON, December 3. Among the arrivals from Sydney today by the Marama was McWilliams, the wireless operatqr for the Southern Cross. He was unable to say anything in regard to future plans. He missed seeing Kingsford Smith and Ulm in Sydney, they having just left for Melbourne, but as he said they can get in touch with him at any time. He spoke of the arduous nature of the Australia to England trip. They had no clear weather till they.crossed the desert to Athens.