HAWERA AERO CLUB

Hawera Star, Volume L, 25 June 1930, Page 13

HAWERA AERO CLUB

FIRST ANNUAL MEETING

REMARKABLE PROGRESS MADE

A year of remarkable progress was revealed at the first annual meeting of the Hawera Aero Club last evening, over which Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., presided. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from Messrs P. Bond, B. McCarthy and C. Davy. ANNUAL REPORT. ••On Friday, May 3, last year nearly 100 citizens met '.in the Borough Council Cliambers, Hawera, to discuss the question of forming an aero club in rlawera with the object, first of all, of providing landing facilities for aeroplanes in keeping with the importance of the town, and in the second place to arrange, as far as possible, for the training of pilots in this district. At that meeting a good deal of enthusiasm was evidenced and a strong committee was set up. This committee has functioned ever since and 34 committee meetings have been held during the year,” stated the president’s annual report. •‘The first difficulty the club had to face was finding suitable ground for the aerodrome, and after careful investigation arrangements were finally made with Mr and Mrs Dunlop to lease their property for the purpose. The next step taken was to erect a hangar, and I hav© pleasure in reporting not only that the hangar is complete but also that it is undoubtedly the best and most commodious club hangar in New ealand. The only other hangar in New Zealand comparable with ours is the one at th© Wigram Aerodrome at Christchurch, owned by the Defence Department. The hangar was constructed partly by paid labour and partly by voluntary labour, and so much voluntary work was done by working bees on the ground, that I feel it would Ik* invidious to mention names. However, the thanks of the club and of Hawera generally are due to the citizens who have helped to establish the aerodrome with lioth money and labour.

“New Zealand is just beginning to develoo what I might describe an ‘air sense,’ and in a few years’ time I venture to predict that the Hawera air port will be well known and recognised as one of the most useful in the country. New Zealand is somewhat backward in. flying just now. but is rapidly making up for lost time and new aeroplanes are arriving in the country every day. “The balance-sheet discloses a remarkably healthy position. After spending £585 on the hangar we have £351 Gs 5d on fixed deposit and £97

3s 5d at the bank. No depreciation lias been written off the hangar, as it was completed half-way through the year, and a good deal of the work was done voluntarily. However, commencing the present year we shall probably write oh depreciation at the rate of 10 per cent per annum. “One of the outstanding developments ot the year was the formation of the New Zealand Aero Club, which will be the body controlling aviation in New Zealand. Another local development of more than passing interest- is the federation of the Hawera, New Plymouth, Wanganui and Manawatu Aero Clubs. If this federation comes about then the federation will be entitled to receive the Government subsidy of £SOO per annum and another ’plane. As a matter of fact a ’plane arrived to-day on loan from the Government to the federation. The matter of training pilots will be one of the first considerations of the federation, and probably early next month we will be able to make an announcement in this connection.”

The federation wars not yet completed, added Mr Dickie, the HawCira, New Plymouth and Wanganui. clubt.eing the only ones properly constituted, and it was hoped that the Manawatu and Feilcling olid is would be constituted to enable the federation to be effected. At present Hawera, possessed the only training ground, and it was probable that all pupils would be trained at Hawera for some time. Twelve months ago one coukd not have even most optimistically hoped for sucih a year of progress, said Mr Horner, in speaking to the report and balancesheet. The position was indeed,, eminently pleasing, the position ot the club and the progress it had made were a credit to the town and district. The report and balance-sheet wore adopted

The election of officers resulted: President, Dr. W. F. Buist; vicepresidents, Messrs H. G. Dickie, G. H. Buckeridge, B. C. Bennett, J. Gray F A Pacev, B. Murdoch, V Dixon, B. McCarthy, \Y. Al. Thomson, P. Bond, F. V. hysons, -J. A. Du If ill, J. Dunlop, and Mrs. AlcBao: club captain, Air. C. I' revberg; \ iceclub captain, Mr. Brian Hay Ini tie ; secretary and treasurer, Mr. \\ . G. Walkley; honorary solicitor, Air. A. K North; committee, Messrs \\ . A. Sprajrg, R. Syme, AY G. Strange R. P Morrissev, F. A\ r . Horner. AV. AY. Daw, T. M. Ellis, B. McNeil G. Canty, J. Gibson, AY. J. Clanngbold, Mrs. Mcßae; honorary auditor, Air. G. H. Buckeridge. Appreciation of the efforts made on behalf of the club by Air. Dickie in his capacity of president was voiced by Air. Freyberg, who also referred to the past' president’s whole-hearted interest in the club. The meeting accorded Air. Dickie a. hearty vote of thanks for his sendees.