TRAINING PILOTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22860, 15 October 1937, Page 12

TRAINING PILOTS

THE WAIKATO CLUB STATE AID REQUESTED 1 STATEMENT BY MINISTER CONSIDERATION NEXT YEAR [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday A request that the newly-formed Wai kato Aero Club be added to the list, of 11 aero clubs at present training pilots for the civil reserve and be granted the assistance given those clubs, was uiade to the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, by the president and members of the club committee this morning. The Minister gave his attention to the matter for two and paid a visit to the aerodrome at Rukuhia, but finally indicated that he was not free to grant the request at present. When the first 12 months of training was reviewed in February or March the claims of the club would be fully considered. The president, Mr. C. B. Smith, said the club catered for a wide area in the Waikato and was ideally situated in the triangle formed by Hamilton, Cambridge and To Awamutu. Ithad an aerodrome which was regularly visited by 'defence aeroplanes and measured up to the standards required by the Government for its training of pilots better than most of tho 11 clubs now assisted by the Government. Since tho inception of the aerodrome 46 pilots had been trained at Rukuhia. Tho deputy-mayor of Hamilton, Mr. H. D. Caro, and Mr. C. A. Barrell, M.P., supported the, request. "The present scheme for training pilots for tho civil re.serve is in operation for 12 months," said the Minister, in reply, "and until wo see what the position is at the end of the 12 months —that will bo in February or Marchit will be impossible to grant any additional licences. When wo do review the position, we will have to consider it from a geographical point of view, and we will then have to consider the claims of all the numerous clubs who want assistance." Asked whether any proportion of the £IO,OOO set aside to help aero clubs to buy new machines could be made available to the Waikato Club, the Minister said the Auckland Aero Club had stated it had one Moth too many. If the club could arrange to take over that machine he waß quite prepared to put the matter before the Air Board.