AVIATION IN WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 116, 19 May 1932, Page 5

AVIATION IN WANGANUI

AERO CLUB’S ACTIVITIES A SUCCESSFUL YEAR The annual general meeting of the Wanganui Aero Club is to be held on Monday night. An enthusiastic annual report is to be presented, which reads as follows: “ During the past year wonderful progress has been made in local aviation. Some 50 pupils have been on the dual registrar at the Wanganui Airport throughout the last year, included in this number being a few who have come from other clubs for instruction. Of these 22 made their first solo flight at Wanganui; 11 of the number have gained their “A’ licenses and two have had their “A” endorsed to carry passengers and the remainder are flying solo.” “It is worth noting that although the dual time taken by each before going solo has been very short, no damage whatever has been done to any ’plane by a pupil. Some of the “A’ licensed pupils have taken cross-coun-

trv flights on week-ends, visiting New Plymouth, Masterton and Wellington other ’dromes en route. It is our w endeavour to encourage these flights “Aerodrome.—A very great im-

provement has been effected since our last annual meeting, the club having spent a further £5OO on the grounds and the City Council have done great work with the aid of unemployed labour, the city engineer (Mr. Deem) taking a very great personal interest in this work and a great deal of his time and expert knowledge has been given to same. “Pageant.—The official North Island Pageant was held in Wanganui on March 19, and was a great success, ’planes from all parts of New Zealand taking part. The thanks of the club are due to the committee for the strenuous work which was undertaken to insure this success. Visitors to the pageant were unanimous in their praise of the arrangements and consider it was the most successful yet held in New Zealand. In all forty-two ’planes took part and the thanks of the club are due to all New Zealand clubs who so willingly assisted. The final result of the pageant showed a profit of £27 15s 2d. “Membership.—Notwithstanding the reduction in fees, the number of new members is very disappointing and it only each member would bring along a new one. it would bo of great assistance to the club. “Golf tn the interand energy displayed by two or three of the members, a three-holo course is now open and it is hoped this will be increased to at least a nine-hole course during the year. Tt Is anticipated that members will derive considerable pleasure from it. “Finance.—A small loss in the year’s workings is revealed by the balance-sheet. Provision has been made for depreciation totalling £5B 13s. and dealing with the disbursements, several of these being non-recurring and savings will be effected in others during the coming year. Against this, however, there will be a considerable drop in revenue on account of the reduction in the rate of interest to be paid bv the Government of their bonds held by the club, and an increase in the membership should be one of the main objects during the present year.