AVIATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 14 December 1932, Page 2

AVIATION

NELSON AERO CLUB ENTHUSIASTIC PUBLIC MEETING OFFICERS ELECTED A most enthusiastic public meeting attended by over 60 people was held in the Council Chambers last evening in connection with the formation of a Nelson Aero Club. The Mayor, Mr W. J. Moffatt. was iri the chair. The chairman called on the provisional chairman of the Aero Club, Mr A. R. Kingsford, to address the meeting. Mr Kingsford thanked the Mayor lor the great interest and sympathy he had shown in aviation and in the efforts to establish a club in Nelson. He said it was four years ago that a public meeting was first called for the formation of a local Aero Club. However, nothing definite came from that meeting and several times since unsuccessful efforts had been made to establish a club. Recently, with the support of the Marlborough Aero Club, a meeting was held and a provisional committee was set up, and as a result something concrete could be put before that night s meeting. The committee had been up against opposition in regard to the proposed Taluma Sands site for an aerodrome, and owing to difficulties the Club decided to look further afield and went to' Stoke, to the Oaklaiuls estate. Major Wilkes, Director of Aviation for New Zealand came over and inspected. this site and passed it as a training area for light ’planes. And so the position now was that the club had a suitable landing ground under offer. Major Wilkes considered there were l better sites and still held that Tahuna was the most suitable. The committee had had numbers of offers of assistance in establishing a ’drome. Already there were 35 members signed up. A scholarship for training had been offered. The present position was that a ground was under offer, and the provisional committee had done a lot of spade work. It was for the meetin" to elect a committee and president in°order to put the club on a proper b V letter was read from Major Wilkes in* which it was stated he considered Tahuna the ideal site for Nelson s aerodrome. However, as there was so much opposition lie recommended the development of the area, at the Oaklands estate al Stoke (Saxton's estate). Mr Kingsford welcomed the attendance of a number of ladies at the meetiim. He pointed out that in large measure the success of the club depended on file, social side of it. and he extended a-i invitation to ladies to join the club as non-flying members. Mr Kingsford explained that the Nelson Club would not be controlled by the Marlborough Aero Club, but would oe under the co?.mnittee elected by the meeting. However, Nelson would .iave to affiliate with the Marlborough -Duo Club in order to gain recognition by the New Zealand Aero Club. The absolute control would be under the Nelson president and committee. In regard to the ground at btoke fill Kingsford said a generous offer had been made regarding rent. It was suggested by the provisional committee that £1 membership fee be charged. It would cost, about £4O for a member to get the A class ticket. From membership, and flving fees would come the club’s main revenue. With 100 foundation members the dub should progress. It was resolved that the report ot tile provisional committee be adopted and that a committee be elected.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Mr H. R- Duncan was unanimously elected president of the club amidst aj; plause. t, , Other officers elected were: Patron, Mr W J Moffatt; committee, Messrs A. R. Kingsford, P. Boyes, J. Newman, I. Neale, K. Walker, and W- Af. Smith, (after a ballot); vice Resident, Mr G. AT. Smart; treasurer, Mr ft n. Alacdonald; secretary, Air N. AT. McLaren. , , • r Air Duncan thanked the meeting tor his election as president. Dealing generally with aviation he thought it was the' right step that the meeting had taken and he hoped that the Club would push forward and be successful. Aviation was developing very fast and lie hoped soon to see a service between Nelson and Wellington. Regarding the risk of air travel lie' mentioned that the Imperial Airways in 1929 covered 4 000,000 miles without, a fatality and pointed out that air travel was becoming as safe as road travel. He would do ms utmost to establish a strong cjub m Nelson and encourage aviation services throughout the Dominion. He was pleased to see so many young men present as be was sure everyone would be travelling by air in the near future. _ The ATayor remarked on the enthusiasm of the President and expressed pleasure that sttch a keen ' man-as Mr Duncan had been elected to the position. Mr AlcLaren referred to the safety ot air travel by quoting a recent statement proving that more miles of air travel per fatality were covered than surface mile travel per fatality. If the Club was to consist of only those who wished to flv. he said, it would not he a success. The help of all those interested was required to make a success of the Club. He then gave a description of the fine clubhouse and aerodrome of the Marlborough Club at Blenheim. Air Boyes stated that a portion of the Blenheim ground was owned by the Blenheim Borough Council which had greatly assisted in the establishment of a municipal airport, and he hoped the Nelson City Council would assist in the establishment of a similar ground in Nelson. . The chairman,, referring to the objections to the Tahuna-Sands site being used as an aerodrome, said at the present lime ’planes came and went, landing on the bead), and there was no protest. He bad seen them landing and making trips with crowds of children us interested spectators and no word of protest was hoard. He said Nelson people did not, seem to have the same outlook as the people of Blenheim in such a matter as an aerodrome. _ Blenheim people seemed to be more vigorous and progressive, and bad a greater vision than Nelson people. “Il seems there is a section in Nelson which protests a gainst any new scheme which is put forward, whatever it is,” he said. As Mayor and patron of the Club lie hoped that ways and means would be found for making Tallinn! Nelson’s airport. He then explained the legal rights problem in regard to tliei area desired on the Sands. He hoped the committee would endeavour to find a- suitable proposal by which the desired sands area could be used for an aerodrome and he hoped that public opinion in Nelson would wake up to the fact that Nelson had to keep up with the advance being made in this direction in other place. He congratulated the Club on its election of Air Duncan as president. The meeting resolved itself into a general meeting of the Club and rules as recommended by the provisional commit lee were adopted. Air IT. R. Duncan, in thanking the Mayor for presiding, said Nelson was fori unate in having in Mr Moffatt a Mayor who took such a keen interest in the affairs of the city. Whatever matter was brought forward for the development and advancement of Nelson,

the Mayor was an ardent supporter of the cause. He agreed with the Alayor that whenever a scheme for the progress of Nelson was brought forward there was a section of the people which waved the flag of opposition and stressed the public rights. “That is why Nelson has not advanced in some ways as Blenheim had done” lie said. In Nelson, lie said, there did not- seem to be the public sympathy with those who worked for the' development and advancement of the city. However, he hoped llie Nelson Aero Club would make rapid progress and keep Nelson up to date in the rapid advancement that aviation was making throughout the world (Applause).