DOMINION AERO CLUBS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26245, 31 August 1946, Page 9

DOMINION AERO CLUBS

QUESTION OF SUBSIDIES

DEBT OWED TO PILOTS

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Aug 30

The debt which the Empire and the Allies generally owed to young pilots who had received tneir initial training in aero clubs was quoted by Mr E. P. Aderman (Oppn.. New Plymouth) during the Imprest Supply Bill debate in the House of Representatives to-day when he asked that speedy action should be taken to subsidise aero clubs. He referred to the New Plymouth club, which he said had 200 members, was an active body, and needed assistance at least equal to that received before the recent war.

The reasons advanced why a subsidy could not be given yet were that the Government was awaiting a definition of its U.N.O. commitments and the enunciation of the policy of the Airways Corporation, said Mr Aderman. Australia, however, would have similar U.N.O. commitments and it had a national airways corporation, yet it was able to subsidise its aero clubs on a generous basis. There was £SO for each pilot wh qualified in a club machine. £lO for each A licence renewed and £25 for maintenance for each 50 hours flown by a club machine. with an annual maximum for subsidy purposes of 200 hours In addition the Commonwealth Department of Civil Aviation was authorised to increase the first-mentioned two grants to £6O and £l2 10s in the case of country aero clubs. Hangar accommodation was also being provided free where available.

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