GOOD START MADE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22571, 26 February 1948, Page 4

GOOD START MADE

AERO CLUB YEAR £720 SURPLUS SHOWN ANONYMOUS GIFT OF £167 “This is an occasion of which I feel Gisborne can justly be proud. It is the end of the first year of flying operations' of the Gisborne Aero Club,’’ said the president, Mr. G. A. Nicholls, in moving the adoption of the annual report at last night’s meeting. Mr. Nicholls emphasised that, the British Empire could not afford to do without an air force. The young man who learn to fly was a national asset, but he still had to pay to learn to fiy. And the only way he could learn to fly was through an aero club. But for the thousands of young men who learnt to fly at aero clubs before the second World War, he said, the British Empire would hove been very badly off for trained pilots. Appreciation of Services

Mr. Nicholls voiced the club’s appreciation of the services of Mr. L. RRenolds, instructor, and Mr. J. Pellow, the ground engineer. The president said that at the end of its first year of operations the club showed a surplus of income over expenditure of £720. This was due to the services of the instructor and engineer and the enthusiasm of members. The club’s aircraft had flown a total of 590 hours. , , “On the face of it the club has had a good year, but there are difficulties ahead,” warned Mr Nicholls. “One aircraft has been paid for but there is still £4OO owing on the second aircraft, and that must be paid for out of profit." Cost of C. and A. Covered A donation by an anonymous member of £167, covering the cost of the certificate of airworthiness of one machine, was warmly praised by the president. The present membership of the club was 58 flying members, 34 associate members and 10 life members. The patron, Mr. N. H. Bull, appealed to all public-spirited men to become members of the club. It was doing all it could to foster aviation in the district and, therefore, was worthy of the fullest support possible. The president and committee were congratulated on their successful administration by several members. Election of officers: Patron, Mr. N. H. Bull; president, Mr. G. A. Nicholls; vice-president, Mr. L- C. Field; committee, Messrs. W. R. Stokes, C. Salmon, T. Moore, I. W. Tyerman, D. E. Symes; club captain, Mr. G. C. Spencer; hon. medical officers, Drs. A. Murray Scott, A. L. Singer, Alan M- Gunn; hon. solicitor, Mr. J. G. Nolan; hon. auditor, Mr. D. G. Dyer; secretary, Mr. J. A. Thorburn.