MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 January 1938, Page 13

MOTUEKA

FLYING-OFFICER CLOUSTON’S LANDING

RED-LETTER DAY FOR DISTRICT SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BE MADE lFrom Our Own Correspondent] The Mayor (Mr R. J. L. York) informed the councillors at this week’s meeting of the council of the invitation, sent to Flying Officer A. Clouston on

his proposed flight to New Zealand. Last week, he had, he said, received a j Cfl hle asking him to forward the ncces- ; sary plans and specifications. It would be an honour to the district to have l Flying Officer Clouston landing at the ! Motueka aerodrome.

Referring to a letter in the local paper the Mayor said that it appeared i tha t a member of the Aero Club was annoyed because the club had not been consulted by him or taken into the of the council. He (the Mayor) was concerned with the council ; and not with some member of the Aero ; Club writing under a nom de plume. The visit of Flying Officer Clouston ; was a matter not for a small seciton ( l ° fake in hand, but for the whole disj trict. and the council required the cooperation of all concerned. The arrival of Flying Officer Clouston at the drome would mark one of the biggest j days for Motueka and all help on this I occasion would be welcomed. The j council would say what form the reception was to take and would not be

dictated to by any organisation. It had been questioned why the Town Clerk had communicated with Nelson in regard to the proposed landing of Flying Officer Clouston at Motueka. He could say that the conversation had been a private one and had nothing to do with the dimensions of the Motueka aerodrome. The Mayor’s action in .forwarding an invitation to Flying Office** Clouston to land at Motueka, was endorsed by the Council. The Town Clerk said he wished to make his position clear. He had ’phoned Captain Bolt regarding land marks that might be looked for and | upper air conditions. It was ridiculous | to suggest that he had sought dimensions of the aerodrome from Nelson as they were in the Borough Council office. The Mayor stated that he had received enquiries from Auckland and from the South concerning the proposed landing at Motcuka, and had been congratulated on forwarding the invitation to Flying Officer Clouston. A civic reception would be arranged for and invitations issued to visiting planes and Government and local body representatives. A charge for admission to the drome would be made and the co-operation of the Transport Department and others sought. The Mayor thought that the arrival of the | plane at Motueka would attract a large : crowd, probably 5000 to (>OOO people, J and that all the Motueka business firms | should be given an equal opportunity |to eater tor the occasion. He was also jof the opinion that a school holiday : should be declared and that an invi- ! lation should be sent lo the pupils to : ; attend.