VOCATIONAL TRAINING

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 305, 18 September 1920, Page 7

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

AVIATORS AND TAB STUDENTS AT TRENTHAM,. On Saturday last the vocation officer sought an interview with Mr. Walsh, of Messrs. Walsh Bros., Auckland, (who, with his pilots, Captain Russell and Mr. Going, is initiating the people of Wellington into tine possibilities of aviation as a commercial enterprise), with a view to enlisting support for the work done by ihe Vocational Training Branch among soldier students in the engineering, class at the Military Hospital, In response to the overtures made, Mr. Walsh agreed to havo his 100 h.p.'Avro. aeroplane flown from Hutt Park to' Trentham that the students might bave the opportunty of inspecting the . machine. Quite a large concourse of people gathered on tho Trentham racecourse o» Thursday morning to welcome the visitors. ;

Leaving Hutt'Park shortly after 11.15 a.ni., the 'plane alighted gracefully on the Trentham course ten minutes later, and on stepping out Mr. Walsh and his pilots received an enthusiastic welcome from the' Spectators. Tho students, who had assembled in .strong force, were then taken over by Mr. Walsh, who expounded to them the principles of'the aeroplane engine.. An adjournment was then made for lunch, the visitors proceeding »to' tho officers' mess at the military camp as guests. On resuming after luncheon, Captain Russell. D.F.C., with Captain Galloway, M.C., as passenger, ascended with the 'plane,' and carried out a few aerial gymnastics by way of demonstrating the capabilities'of the machine. Several Indies Of the V.A.D. Hospital staff also displayed their confidence in the aeroplane as a means of transit by in-, dulging in joy rides. Prior to departure, the -vocation officer, on 'behalf of those present, thanked -Mr. Walsh and Captain Russell for the generous -way jn which they had met tbe request. The regard entertained by them for the men in "hospital blues" was very apparent by tho manner in which they had spontaneously and gratuitously held their valuable time and experience at the disposal of the students.

Mr. Walsh, in reply, stated that it had been a pleasure, for himself and pilots to have done what they had for the soldier students, for whom they cherished a strong regard. Further, he said it was likely tltat the engine of the 'plane would require complete'overhaul at an early date, in which case he would be glad to send it to Trentham to enable the students to benefit by the instructional value which would' accrue therefrom. Shortly after 3 p.m. the visitors took their farewell, amid hearty ■ cheers from live spectators. Much interest in the visit of the 'plane was occasioned among the residents of TJnper Hutt, and requests were made by the Superior at the Convent and the headmaster of the Public School that the pilot fly his machine over these seminaries for the benefit of the children. Both/ requests were acceded to.