DAMAGE TO PLANE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1935, Page 3

DAMAGE TO PLANE

ACCIDENT AT AERODROME.

FEDERATED CLUB’S DECISION.

An echo of a mishap to a Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club plane piloted by Mr. Brian Shiel which ran into * fence on the New Plymouth aerodrome just before Mr. Charles Ulm landed from one of his ’ trans-Tasman flights was heard at the executive meeting of the club at Hawera yesterday, when it was decided to write to Mr. Shiel asking him to settle for the damages. It was also decided to write to the Vacuum Oil Co. pointing out that as Mr. Shiel was its aviation officer for New Zealand at the time, it should take some step in the recovery of the damages. If Mr. Shiel does not reply within, a month, the matter will be put in the hands of the club’s solicitors.

At the September meeting of the Federation, a resolution, subsequently communicated to Mr. Shiel, was passed calling on him to pay £5O damages. No reply to the communication was received from Mr. Shiel and at yesterday’s meeting members took a stem .view of the matter.

“If we allow the thing to go on much longer,” said the president, Mr. A. B. Burgess, "we will never get it settled. Mr. Shiel has had plenty of opportunity to pay for his damages and if he fails now we should take strong action. Although he is no longer a member of its staff, the Vacuum Oil Co. should give us some help.”