AVIATION CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22320, 18 January 1936, Page 12

AVIATION CONTESTS

HERALD SCHOLARSHIPS MORE ENTRIES RECEIVED INTEREST IN COMPETITIONS Interest is being well maintained in the contests for the two aviatioc scholarships offered by the proprietors of the Nkw Zealand Herald. Entries received up to yesterday totalled 360. of which 208 were for the scholarship tenable at Mangere aerodrome, and 155 for that to be taken at the Waikato airport, Rukuhia. The club's two instructors have already tested 245 of the candidates. Flight-Lieutenant D. M. Allan hag examined 138 of them cither at Mangere or at one of the eentrps visited during the recent northern tour, and Flight-Lieutenant W. H. Lett has tested 107 applicants at Rukuhia. Entries close on January 31, and it is expected that by then the total number of competitors will be well over 400.

The contests, which are beins conducted by the Auckland Aero Club, are attracting competitors from all walks of life. Among the entries received «o far are those of university students, clerks, garage hands, farmers, and representatives of many other trades and professions. In addition, several Maoris have entered, and the Auckland contestants alone include 15 women. Each competitor receives about half an hour's instruction, including 15 minutes' flying. When all the entrants have been tested, six finalists will be selected at Mangere and six at Rukuhia, and they will be subjected to further examination to determine the winners. The successful candidates will be taught free until they have qualified for A licences, and they will also become members of the club until April 30 this year. The ten other finalists will be granted free associate membership up to the same date. As a further stimulus to aviation, the club has agreed, at the conclusion of the contests, to train five applicants selected a): Mangere and another five chosen at Rukuhia, for £35 each, this to include entrance fee and a year's subscription. These pupils must complete their instruction within a time to be specified. , The conditions provide that competitors must be between 16 and 30 years of age. A fee of £1 is payable by every contestant whose entry :s,ac-' eepted.