AERO CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17805, 2 September 1929, Page 9

AERO CLUB.

FORMED at te aroha. COMMITTEE ELECTED. A well-attended meeting of aero enthusiasts took place on Friday. The gathering was addressed by Mr Douglas Mill, who flew down from Auckland in his Moth plane for the meeting. The Mayor, Mr R. Coulter, assured those present the Borough Council intended to render what assistance, it could in forwarding the project; just to what extent depended on some legislation that was at present before Parliament regarding the subsidising of aero clubs. Though the movement in New Zealand was in its infancy, yet he felt sure that the outcome would lead up to big commercial possibilities. He requested those present- to take this opportunity of questioning Mr Mill regarding any points they were not sure of. Mr Mill stated It was most gratifying to learn that the local body were prepared to stand behind the scheme, as it would then be in the right hands. He had made an extensive trip with Captain Isitt 12 months ago with a view to discovering suitable landin\ places, and in no instance did the local bodies offer any report. Aviation was the coming thing of the future, and those enterprising centres who promoted and pioneered the movement would ultimately reap the benefit. In the last 14 months, said the speaker, 30 light aeroplanes had been imported into New Zealand. He was certain that small individual clubs would attract many people to a centre and automatically expand financially. He favoured the Moth, as it cost roughly the same amount as a good car, gave fast, pleasant transit (about 75 miles per hour), and did 22 miles to the gallon. Its life was, roughly, 250,01)0 miles. Te Aroha was particularly well suited for an aero club, as there would be very little blind flying. There were innumerable places for forced landings.

Landing Ground Discussed. j Answering questions, Mr Mill said ! that, subscriptions varied widely, but a normal subscription for a non- j flying member would be a guinea while a pilot’s subscription would be about £lO. In New Zealand one paid about £3 3s per head for instruction. In starting, a club needed a suitable landing ground and a good ■■ hanger. Then, if finance permitted, the first machine would be purchased, j Roughly £IOOO to £I2OO was necessary to start a club soundly with a machine, but in order to keep a specially trained man for instruction the total cost per annum would amount to something like £3OOO. Outlining the : type of landing ground most suited, \ Mr Mill said that a circular area was ; ideal, but it was necessary to have | clear approaches. j Dr. Dempster spoke in favour of the , formation of a club, and said although I it appeared at present to be a fairly i ambitious scheme yet it was a case of j nothing attempted nothing done. Mr. F. S. Board endorsed the former speaker's remarks. Answering an enquiry as to how clubs were usually started, Mr Mill pointed out that usually a small company was started whereby the subscribers found the necessary money to make the initial effort. On the motion of the Mayor the original committee, comprising Messrs F. S. Board, H. Gills, Gus Walsh, Dr. Dempster and G. W. Johns (secretary) were unanimously returned. The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to Mr D. Mill for his trouble in attending, and also to the chair.