THE AEROPLANE ACCIDENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1934, 17 December 1913, Page 8

THE AEROPLANE ACCIDENT.

■■■' GOVERNMENT AID SOUGHT. Tho recent aeroplane smash at New Lynn and tho serious accident sustained by tho aviator '(Mr. V. E. Sandford) was discussed at a meeting of the Avondale Road Board, the result being that it was resolved to apply to the Prime Minister for Government assistance for Mr. Sandford and his partner. Following upon this action' of the Road Board, a public meeting was held in tho Avondale Public Hal! on Saturday evening, when a largo number of sympathisers with, tho young aviators were in-attendance.. Mr. J. Potter presided, and read the resolution passed by his board. He wa.s aware that tho Government spent thousands of pounds on the defence land forces, and lie oxpressed the opinion that the time had arrived for money to bo spent on aviation, to keep pace with oilier nations. Ho understood that, while the young aviators had succeeded in perfecting a machine, they were handicapped by a faulty engine. He felt that this was ,i national affair, and thought the Gov* eminent should give a grant of £1000 towards another machine. It was ..resolved that tho Road Board take steps to have a petition circulated in the district for signatures urging tho Government to make a national question of the subject of aviation, and that the Government should subsidise Messrs. Miller and Sandford to enable them to continue their. experiments; also that'the Avondale Road Board take steps to urge all other local bodies around Auckland to. get up similar petitions. Tho motion was carried unanimously. A'resolution was also carried to the effect that a committee be set up to consider what _ steps can be teken to further the object of providing Messrs. Miller. and Sandford with the means cf reconstructing a new machine.