TALE OF A TEA-SET

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1935, Page 5

TALE OF A TEA-SET

AERO CLUB INTERLUDE.

PRESENTATION ALMOST MADE.

The tale of a tea-set that was almost presented to Mr. G. M. Spence, president of the New Zealand Aero Club, at the last annual, meeting was told by Mr. S. E. Nielson at a meeting of the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club at Hawera yesterday. Before the annual meeting, said Mr. Nielson, Mr. Spence said definitely that he would not consent to re-election as president, and the clubs, deciding to make him a presentation on his retirement, subscribed to a fund. At Mr. Nielson’s request Mr. Spence chose his own present, a silver tea service. At the meeting the set stood in a conspicuous ‘ position on the president’s table. When Mr. Spence consented to accept renomination he left the room for a few minutes, and while he was away the delegates decided in view of the altered position not to make the presentation. An awkward position had since arisen, said Mr. Nielson, as the money for the presentation had been paid into the aero club’s bank account and he and Mr. Spence were the only persons authorised to withdraw monies from the account. The subscriptions were to be returned to the individual clubs and Mr. Spence would have to sign cheques for the refunding of the donations which were to purchase his presentation.