AVIATION PUPILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12176, 27 November 1917, Page 4

AVIATION PUPILS.

PROPOSED FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE

CARNIVAL COMMITTEE'S DECISION.

The question of assisting; candidates to enter the Aviation School was discussed last night by the Motor Carnival Committee, on receipt of a letter from the Mayor suggesting that the first £SOO should he set aside to assist unfinancial candidates, and that the remainder should be divided between the Red Cross, the Patriotic Fund and the Lady Liverpool Fund, Mr P- H. Climie, the chairman of the committee, said that the lee at iSoekburn was £IOO, plus about £6 for board, and the candidate received a refund of £"5 on taking his pilot's certificate, so that the actual sum required was about £3O per pupil. Mr A. S. f'larkson said thaifr he did not think the Mayor had studied the matter out clearly in regard to the needs of the Bed Cross. The Navy was the first line of defence, and the Red Cross assisted to keep the services manned. If the British Government required aviators, the New Zealand Government ought to send the men, just it, sent them to the trenches. Whereas it cost £3OO to send an in-f-antryman to England, Mip Government could send an aviator for a paltry £3O. He had received a letter from the Red Cross bringing under his notice the ever-increasing needs of Red Cross work, and the heavy rails for additional comforts not provided in the Government scale- This was the direction in which the. funds should' be applied, and he regretted that the old name " Red Cross Carnival " had been dropped. The Government could conscript men for the aviation corps, and it was not the wish of the Aviation Companv to have the matter canvassed. As a matter of fact, ther» were more flying candidates than the company could handle.

Mr W. Minson supported Mr Clarkson's view, remarking that as the company had x long waiting list, there was no object, in assisting other pupils. Mr P. T. Tosswill said that aviation was in an embryo state commercially, but a science in a military sense. The need for aviators was great, and there. were many prospective aviators who only required financial assistance. Therefore the sportsmen should assistSeveral other speakers expressed the view that the Aviation Company was not likely to lack pupils, and Mr A. Donaldson stated that without an artunion the receipts this vear would not reach £SOO.

Mr Climie said that the suggestion did not come from the company, which had nothing whatever to do with it.

It was finally agreed to give the whole of tho net proceeds to the Rcfl Cross F'iinrl.