OTAGO AERO CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20381, 12 April 1928, Page 5

OTAGO AERO CLUB.

A BIRD WITHOUT WINGS. NO MACHINE AVAILABLE. PROMISE SAID TO BE BROKEN. A bird without wings is the Otago Aero Club, a live but little-known organisation which came into existence in i 927 on the understanding that it would receive necessaiy assistance from the Government. For the past 12 months it has waited patiently tor a sign of official recognition, but this has not been forthcoming. Instead, the members read with dismay last week an announcement that of four aeroplanes which are to be made available to aero clubs for training purposes, two will be allotted to Christchurch and two to Auckland.

The present position has arisen, apparsently,. from the fact that some time in 1927 the Government issued a statement in which it undertook to assist private aero clubs, when formed, by providing each with a machine for training purposes, and by offering a subsidy for every certificated pilot trained by such a club. Prior to the appearance of this statement, a number of Otago aviation enthusiasts who had heard rumours of the move decided to be first in the field, and set out to form a club that would comply with the conditions officially laid down. Thus, on January 21. 1927, the Otago Aero Club came into existence.

Though its organisation was no light task, the club speedily became a properly constituted body, possessing all the qualifications stated to be necessary in order to secure official recognition and assistance. To-day its president is the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner), the vice-president is Mr T. K. Sidey, the secretary is Mr H. A. White, and the list of members far exceeds the Government requirement. Moreover, it has two instructors—both qualified flight lieutenants—and the members of its committee have their eye on a piece of land which they consider would make an excellent flying field and training base. In short, the Otago Aero Club has everything necessary to begin private flying in Dunedin, save that very necessary thing—an aeroplane.

Since the formation of the club very little has been done pending an official move to secure machines which could ‘be made available for private flying, but the hopes of the members ran high when it was learned that eight Moth machines had been ordered by the Government. This news seemed to place a seal of success on the Otago organisation, and everything appeared to be panning out according to anticipations. Then came last week’s announcement that four machines would be available, and these would be divided between Christchurch and Auckland. It is stated by members of the Otago Aero Club that when this announcement was made the only organised body of its kind in the country was the Otago Aero Club, and, in fact, it is still the only organised club of its kind. They contend, further, that their club is the only organisation in New Zealand that is entitled to the use of an aeroplane under the conditions laid down in the statement issued by the Government when the club was first formed.

Th e matter is not to be allowed to rest where it is at present, and with a view to obtaining proper recognition, members of the club approached the secretary of the Otago Expansion League yesterday, and asked for the support of the league in pressing the club’s claim for the use of a machine. An effort is being made to approach th e Minister of Defence (Mr F. J. Rolleston) with a deputation upon his arrival in Dunedin en route to the opening of the Roxburgh railway.