SOUTHERN CROSS VISIT

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 3

SOUTHERN CROSS VISIT

LANDING AT NEW PLYMOUTH PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS. AERO CLUB EXECUTIVE MEETS. A largo number of matters in connection with the projecting landing of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross at New Plymouth in September were discussed at a meeting of the executive of the New Plymouth Aero Club last night, when there were present Messrs. A. F. Sandford (president), C. Clarke, C. Hannan, C. E. Bellringer, W. Stanton, N. Derby, S. W. Green, E. Mczadith, L. M. Moss, P. J. Flannagan and S. E. Nielson (secretary). The chairman extended a welcome to Messrs. E. Payne and H. W. Lightband, who attended to assist the committee in organising arrangements in connection with the landing of the Southern Cross. A recommendation was made to the sub-committee dealing with entertainments that a social evening be held at New Plymouth, if possible within the next month. With regard to the extension, of the ground, the chairman said that he understood the bulk of the earthwork would be completed before the end of the month. The question of w*hether to metal the To Arei Road entrance or not was deferred, but arrangements were made to have a reserve supply of metal dumped o'n the ground. With reference to the golf course, Mr. ’Flannagan said the laying-out of three holes withheld up until the earthwork of the field extension was completed. - Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Rennell, Miss Ivy Bell and' Messrs. J. Devine, J. Stevenson, S. Lovell, W. <H. Dineen, V. Dalgleish, Dr. D. E. Brown and Derby and Co. were elected members of the club. It was resolved to advertise in the New Plymouth papers, inviting membership of the club. . . It was decided to invite the donation of books and magazines to the clubhouse library. The Hawke’s Bay and East Coast Aero Club forwarded an invitation to attend a club week-end on October 8. Information was received from the New Zealand Aero Club that Mr. Meredith had won the Cory-Wright Cup for navigation at the North Island pageant of the New Zealand Aero 'Club. The chairman moved a complimentary vote to Mr. Meredith on his success.

The secretary reported that the cup had already arrived at New Plymouth, and it was decided to present it on some suitable occasion. A request was received from the New Plymouth branch of the Plunket Society for permission to print special Kingsford Smith badges for sale on the day the Southern Cross is due at New Plymouth. The secretary reported that he had forwarded the application on to Sir Charles’ representative in New Zealand. Ah offer - was received from the Rover Motor Company offering Sir .Charles Kingsford Smith the use of a Meteor car throughout his stay in New Zealand. It was resolved to write to the company expressing thanks for its offer. SUB-COMMITTEES APPOINTED. Sub-committees in connection with the arrival of the . Southern Cross were set up as follow: — < Wireless organisation and loud-speak-ers: Messrs. -P. E. Stainton, H. W. Lightband,. E. Payne and S. W. Green. Ground committee: Messrs. A. F. Sandford and C. Clarke. Transport committee: Messrs. P. J, Flannagan, L. M. Moss, Eliot King and A. Williamson. Officers of the day: The club captain (Mr. N. Derby) and Mr. N. Meredith; assistants, Messrs. K. Holdaway, Petersen, lan Keith, J. Paynter and W. Stanton. Afternoon tea: Messrs. C. Hannan ana G. Petty. The president said that Mrs. Sandford was willing to organise a ladies’ committee. Assistants to the ground engineer (Mr. A. Salter):' Messrs. E. Pankhurst, N; Isaac, Anderson and Grundy. Ball committee: Messrs. Hannan, Pankhurst, Petty and Keith. Ground control: Messrs. K. Kirk, ,K; Martin, Hugh; Mar tin, C. Parker and J. VV<iLTIIOCk» '■ • ‘ ? Traffic: Inside, Mr. R. Day; outside, Mr. R. Aroa. ' ■ j /y-.: Gatekeepers: Messrs. J. Johnson and assistants. ■ -. * Progress at aerodrome pending arrival of the Southern Cross: Flying-Officer lan Keith. . -aa Executive and reception committee: Messrs. A. F. Sandford, C. Clarke, C. Hannan, P. E. Stainton and the secretary. . ■ Honorary surgeons: Drs. Davie, Gray, Reid and Brown. Dinner committee: Messrs. Sandford, Hannan and the secretary. In case the Southern Cross is late and is compelled to land at night, the secretary reported that arrangements wefe being made to instal a pair of searchlights. The chairman and Messrs. Moss, Bellringer, Hannan and the secretary were appointed a committee to wait on the borough council with a request that a more powerful power line be laid to the aerodrome. The secretary reported that Sir Charles wished to make it plain that he did not want anything from the gate money on the occasion of his arrival, and desired the club to take the whole of the gross gates. He did not wish the public to-pay anything to him personally in order to see him or his machine. ’ MORSE k Mr. Lightband suggested that the Post Office be approached with the object of having a transmitter installed at the aerodrome and constant Morse communication maintained with the machine throughout the flight. Members considered this was' most necessary, and it was decided to adopt the suggestion. An endeavour will be made to keep the people at the aerodrome in touch with th© movements of the Southern Cross throughout the day. It was resolved to endeavour to hold a ball during-Sir Charles’ stay at New Plymouth, and to arrange a lecture by Sir Charles at the Boys’ High School. The secretary reported that he understood, quite apart from the proposed High School lecture, that Sir' Charles intended to give a public lecture in Jffie Opera House. It was also reported that Fox Movietone News intended to film the landing of the Southern Cross. It was decided to invite the Prime Minister and Minister of Defence to attend the official reception. It was decided to hold the New Plymouth club’s “At Home” week-end to synchronise with the arrival of the Southern Cross, and to endeavour to billet the visiting pilots. -The matter was left in the hands of Messrs. Stanton, Meredith and Green to arrange. Warm tributes were-paid to the efficiency of the instructor, Mr. lan Keith, and the ground engineer, Mr. A. Salter. The secretary reported that a club notice board was being posted up outside a shop in Devon Street. It was remarked that there would be

keen competition amongst pilots to tx in the air when the Southern Cross arrived, and possibly the best way would be to draw the names out of a hat. The matter was left in the hands of the club captain and the pilot-instructor. In view of the greatly improved facilities at the aerodrome it was decided to recommend an amended scale of membership fees for consideration at the annual meeting. The scale recommended waz: Donation members, 10s. 6d. (such members to have free admittance to club functions and demonstrations, but not to the use of club facilities such as clubroom, golf course, tennis courts, etc); active members, £1 Is.; flying members, entrance fee £1 Is. and subscription £1 Is. Donation members and nonmembers to pay Is. for one round and Is. *6d. for two rounds to use the golf course, and 3d. per player per set to us® the tennis court. A resolution of thanks was accorded Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., for his services in connection with securing an unemployment relief grant for work oa the landing field. FOR THE YEAR. The secretary reported that the expenditure during the past year exceeded the income by £lBB 10s. Bd. _ However, there were several substantial items that should not recur in the expenditure. He had also allowed a substantial depreciation- of £193 3s. 3d. on the hangar, club house, furniture, fittings and plant. The individual items were as follow:— - ■ Expenditure: Expenses of aerial pageant and camp week, £179 Is. 4d.; expenses of sundry functions and visits, £32 Is.; wages, £4B; printing and stationery, £8 7s. 3d.; salary, £26; interest, insurance and audit- fees, £9 15s. 9d.; petty £l4 18s. 9d.; telephones, bureaux, telegrams, bank fees, cheque books, etc., £22 25.; electric light, travelling exps., etc., £ll 10s. 2d.; repairs and sundry, £29 17s. lid.; presentation Mr. G. M. Spence, £ll 135.; rates, £ll 4s. 2d.; car allowance, Mr. I. Keith, £l5; Appreciation on hangar and club house, £164 35.; depreciation?, on furniture and fittings, £2l 6s. 3d.; depreciation on plant, £7 145.; total, £612 I4s. 7d. ' ’ Income: Receipts from aerial, pageant and camp week, £147 Ils. lid.; subscriptions, £47 15s. 6d.; donation, £1; locker rents, 12s. 6d.; grazing rents, £ll ss; interest New Plymouth Savings Bank, £ll3 55.; interest inscribed stock, £77 15s. 7d.; allowance benzine supplied. £24 18s. 5d.; excess expenditure over income, £lBB 10s. Bd.; total, £612 14s. 7d. The statement was adopted.