Hutt Aero Club

Hutt News, Volume XXI, Issue 49, 2 June 1948, Page 9

Hutt Aero Club

.1 ... - im-i^r FORMATION DECIDED ON

KEEN INTEREST DISPLAYED

The formation of a Hutt Valley Aero Club was decided on at a meeting held in Lower Hutt on Monday night. The meeting, which was sponsored by the Hutt Valley Chamber of. Commerce and industry, was presided over by Mr. Max P. Glasspole, and Mr. F. Greenaway was appointed acting-secretary. Mr. Glasspole spoke of the need of an aero club Un the Hutt Valley, in view of the great increase in population and the prospective development of civil flying. Instructors and technical experts were available to help the club through the initial stages. A survey had been made in 1937 by the Public Works Department of the possibilities of an air strip on Gear Island. The site had been considered suitable. The Regional Planning, office in Wellington was planning landing grounds in the Wellington district. Gear Island and three others in HuttValley were being looked into.

Everyone Will Fly Mr. F. Lonsdale, speaking as a private individual, not as a councillor, said he had always been keenly interested in the development of flying a:id had always advocated the provision of air strips in the Valley. In twenty years everyone would fly, and air strips should be provided as near the centre of the city. as possible. Possible sites had been Jinvestigated some 'years ago, and the only suitable strip available seemed to be on Gear Island. While he was on the Council the club would have his fullest support. It was mentioned that the land at Gear Island was under the control of the Hutt River Board, and was leased to a Golf Club for some" years. Election of Officers The following officers were elected: —Patron, the Right : Hon. Walter Nash; president, Mr. [P. Lonsdale; vice-presidents, Messrs. iH. E. Combs, 'M.P., M. Mo.ohan, M.P., J. J. Maher, M.P., Messrs. E, P. Hay, A. M. Macfarlane, E W Nicolaus, and E W. Wise, Mayors of Lower Hutt, Petone, Upper Hutt, and Eastbourne respectively; Mr. H. S. Dudding, chairman of the Hutt River Board; Councillors J. E. F. Vogel, H. H. Beazley and W. C. Gregory, of the Lower Hutt City Council; Messrs. J. Stellin and A. White, Lower Hutt Superintendent of Reserves; club captain, Mr. A. C. Elworthy; committee, Messrs. L. Mitchell, J. Strand, R. R. Sainsbury, D. Lister, H., J. Courteney, C. M. Robertson, A. Atkinson, M. D. Glasspole, and J. Watt; hon. auditor, Mr. Keith Gibson.