AVIATION ON WEST COAST

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 11

AVIATION ON WEST COAST

ANOTHER PLANE REQUESTED

PROGRESS OF THE AERODROMES

MEETING OF FEDERATION HELD .

(By Wire —'Special Reporter.) Wanganui, Last Night.

Matters .dealing with aviation were discussed at a meeting of the Western Federation of Flying Clubs held at Wanganui ; this evening. The' president of the federation, Mr. A. ,S. Burgess,, presided. . There were delegates present from Palmerston North, Wanganui; Hawera, Feilding and New Plymouth Clubs. The New Plymouth delegates were Messrs G. M. Spence; C. Hannan and S. E. Nielson, and the Hawera Dr. W. F. Burnt, C. Freybetg and W, G. Strange. Palme,rston North advised that the matter of providing a public aerodrome had been taken 'up by Milspm Aerodrome Jnc., which consisted of representative citizens and members of the aero club. An area of 50 acres on the outskirts of the city had been leased and was . now being ploughed, levelled and re-sown. It shbuld be ready in about two months. In the meantime hangar accommodation was being erected. The .site was ah admirable ' one, free from obstructions in all directions. It had been very favourably reported on by the Director of Air ■Services.

Wheri the aerodronie was ready the club would be able to make arrangements for the use of the ground ; and build up'its organisation. In the meantime the club was only a nominal body with a negligible membership. It remained to be seen when the aerodrome was available whether sufficient interest in club aviation would be forthcoming. . •■ '. ■ Mr. C. P. Brown (Wanganui) thought the letter was a declaration of insolvency. It was plain that Palmerston North could not pay its share of the plane. . . •' Another delegate remarked that if the federation made money the club would benefit; if the' federation lest the-club would get ,off scot free. / - .„'.■■ Mr. Spence said enthusiasm could hardly be expected until .they had- a ground. He ' moved that Palmerston ■North be requested’ to acknowledge its liability on the plane and agree -o pay the amount with interest when convenient and that the position be reviewed in three months. The motion was carried. < ; . ■'■■ .' The New. Zealand Aero Club, advised that arrangements had been made whereby information with regard to weather in other centres could'be obtained by telegraph at the rate allowed mariners, Is if ply paid. Mr. Spence explained that'the matter had been left with the New Zealand Club to, apply for concession Tates by telephone. He moved that .the New Zealand Club should be urged to press for finality. The motion wa.i carried. 'The chairman commented that they wanted the very best facilities 'they could obtain. "TWO FIRST-CLASS PAG'EAiXTjSThe Marlborough Aero Club wrote that its 1931 pageant would be on February 21 and the club hoped for the co-operation’of the federation. Mr Spence said the New Zealand body had decided that there should, be one pageant in the South Island and one pageant in the North Island each year. Dr. Buist said the motive was to stop the rot that was setting in of planes going found' the country to different functions. ','■ ,/?■ ' : . ’ ' ;■"

Mr. Spence said the aim was to keep South Island planes in the South Island and North Island planes in the North Island.

1 The chairman thought that there should be two pageants in each island. Mr. Frey berg suggest ed that there should be two classes’ of pageants; one would be official and the other of a friendly nature between the clubs themselves.

Mr. Franklyn (’Wanganui) spoke in fayour of two. classes .of pageants. Mr. Spence thought there should be

Ji •■t-class pageants in each island and that it should be left to the clubs to arrange any others. ; ' ,

I The chairman moved that it should be a recommendation to the New Zealand Federation that there be two official pageants in each of the North' aul Sbuth Islands a year and that secondary pageants be arranged by various clubs themselves. The .'motion - was carried. ■.. . ■

Later i t wa s .decided that a plane should go to the Auckland and.to Marl-, borough pageants. . ' .

Thfe Feilding Club advmed that the club ground had been licensed as a commercial training aerodrome for use by all types of aircraft. A contractor was working on a hangar but had been hampered by weather. . The president reported that he had sent Captain Gibbons to Wellington to take' delivery of a Government plane and the plane was now at Feilding. It was decided that the delegates tothe annual conference of the New Zealand body should be the president and Dr. Buist. /

The pilot instructor submitted a list of tools 'that should be had by every club and Mr., Burgess informed the meeting that tenders were now being called for a hangar at Wanganui to accommodate two planes with wings spread. The building would be a substantial one. I*-, was hoped that in a very short time the club would be in a g ->d financial position. The idea was that ultimately the hangar would be turned into a federation depot for spares and a workshop. The president asked if there was another plane due to the federation from the Government and was answered in the affirmative.

Mr. Spence said a plane was due to the federation as soon as it could be employed. He moved that in view of the fact that three aerodromes had been approved and that two more were shortly to be made available, application be made for the other plane. The motion was carried.

The meeting closed with the decision that the three planes of the federation should meet Oscar Garden south

l Palmerston North and accompany him right through the federation territory as he flew northward. There would thus be five planes together.