PILOT ACQUITTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25216, 31 May 1945, Page 6

PILOT ACQUITTED

LOW-FLY ING CIIAHG ES COURT-MARTIAL AT ARDMORE The hearing of charges of low flying nnd performing aerobatics under .'iOOOii near Taumarunui on -March against Flying-Officer Arthur Norman Samcs, D.F.C.. M.N.Z.A.F.. was concluded at a court-martial at Ardmore air station yesterday. The Court consisted of (Jroup-Captain C. Iv Kay, 0.H.h., D.F.C., Witig-Conunander \\ . H. Burroll, 0.8. F., Wing-Commander (.!. li. Fisher, Squadron-Leader A. N. Johnstone. and Flight-Lieutenant IL H. Gihhs. Flight-Lieutenant E. H. J. Preston was judge advocate, and MyingOiliccr H. E. Tripe prosecuting officer. Mr L. P. Leary and Corporal Brown appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. When the hearing began on Tuesday. Flying-Officer Tripe led evidence to show that the accused, while engaged on a return flight to Ruapehu on March 23. descended over Taumarunui to within a height stated by witnesses to he between 300 ft and 400 ft, rolled his aircraft, and continued on his way. The defence, as outlined by counsel, was that accused could not see Ruapehu because of cloud on that day. and went down through a gap at Taumarunui to check bis position. Mist below the cloud base forced him still lower, and he had descended to between 600 ft and 700 ft from the ground before bo could identify the town. Owing to his originally thinking the town was 1 193 ft above sea level, lie had over-estimated hi« height when previously questioned about the incident, Flying below 2000 ft was permissible as an emergency procedure, of which the present case was an example. The roll was performed when accused's aircraft was climbing away from the town.

Evidence tin the lines of the defence wa.s sriven by the accused, and by two experienced pilots, who described the procedure adopted as not abnormal in the circumstances After deliberating for about 30 minutes, the Court acquitted accused on both counts.

FIRE SERVICE

OTAHUHU BRIGADE LINK WITH CITY PLANNED A decision to approve a proposal _ to join up with the Metropolitan Fire Board has been made by the Otahuhu Borough Council following a report from its Fire Brigade Committee. The town clerk, Mr U. F. M. Wood, tins been instructed to obtain certain financial details and report back to the council's Legal and Finance Committee

Mr Wood said that the approximate cost to the borough under trie metropolitan board, taking figures for the last financial year, would be £640. Although an increase was expected this year, the contribution should not exceed £750. Should the present volunteer brigade be continued, the annual cost was estimated at £21520. Under the new fire regulations an additional fire engine costing about £.'looo was necessary and a fire alarm system was estimated to cost a further £3OOO.

As the present fire station site had been sold, a new site and station would have to be provided at an estimated cost of £6OOO, continued Mr Wood. The raising of a loan for this amount would incur an annual charge of L'72o for interest and sinking fund. Four permanent firemen would cost £I2OO a year, and the annual cost of running the brigade would lie about £IOO, making a total for all items of £2320, Should the council definitely decide to link up with the metropolitan hoard a poll of ratepayers would have to be taken before trie change-over could be made, concluded Mr Wood. The volunteer brigade, which has a membership of 28, was formed in December, 1914.