CIVIL AVIATION

Southland Times, Issue 21854, 3 November 1932, Page 5

CIVIL AVIATION

SEPARATION FROM DEFENCE DEPARTMENT. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, November 2. Separation of the civil aviation branch from the Defence Department was suggested as being desirable by Mr G. M. Spence in his presidential address at the New Zealand Aero Club to-day. At the present time, said Mr Spence, aero clubs receive subsidies out of the aviation vote which in its turn is part of the defence vote. Matters affecting aero clubs had to go through the ordinary machinery of the Defence Department, whereas the Director of Air Services ought to be able to go to the responsible Minister. The club should make some representations to the Government along those lines. Mr Spence said that civil flying was distinct from service flying in Britain and Australia. The following officers were elected: Patron, Sir Henry Wigram; president, Mr G. M. Spence (Western Federated); vice-presidents, Messrs H. R. Dix (Marlborough) and Spencer Mason (Auckland); council, Messrs C. C. Weinstein (Wellington), T. E. O’Dowd (Hawkes Bay), W. L. Free (Wairarapa), S. F. Allen (Otago), H. J. Macalister (Southland), Sir Francis Boys (Canterbury) secretary, Mr S. E. Nielson (Western Federated); auditor, Mr T. Forsyth (Wellington).