AS FLYING CENTRE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1929, Page 12

AS FLYING CENTRE

TRAINING PILOTS

MINISTER'S VIEWS

A request that the Government should use its endeavours' to secure Gear Island as a landing ground and aerodrome was made to the Minister of Defence (the Hon. T. M. Wilford, K.C.), yesterday afteriioon bj a deputation representing residents of the Hutt Valley. Mr. Wilford agreed Gear Island was suitable for a landing ground, but said it would be necessary to amend the Hutt BiAr Board Empowering Act- before the Wellington Aero Club could secure a lease of the ground.

Mr. A. W. Nisbet said in view of the opinions expressed by various visiting pilots at the recent aerial pageant as to the unsuitability of the Eongotai air port as a training ground, Wing Commander Grant-Dalton was,asked to visit Gear Island. That he- did on Monday last, in company with Mr. W. T. Strand, chairman of the Hutt Biver Board, Mr. G. M. Goodwin, and himself. "In view of the fact that Wing Commander Grant Dalton appeared to be favourably impressed, with . the possibilities of Gear Island, it was decided to call a public meeting to consider ways .and means of securing the - island for aviation," said Mr. Nisbet. "This meeting was called by advertisement in the Press and a well-attended meeting was held in the Council Chamber, Lower Hutt, on Thursday. At that meeting a resolution was carried unanimously setting up a small committee to interview you and also the various local bodies affected, with a ■. view to securing your approval and cooperation. We have been in touch with the Eiver Board and are waiting on them again to-night as a deputation, but we understand that some slight dif- , ficulty may arise owing to the fact that the Hutt Eiver Board Gear Island Empowering. Act, 1927, only provides for the leasing of the island to sports bodies', and there appears to be some legal doubt as to whether an aero club is a 'sports body.' A JOINT LEASE. "Our main object in waiting on you to-day is first of all to obtain your : official sanction and approval of Gear Island as an air port for the Hutt Valley and a training ground for the Wellington Aero Club, and secondly to obtain your assistance in having the necessary validating legislation passed— if such legislation is necessary—to enable the board to lease a part of the island for the Wellington Aero Club. In dealing with this aspect of the question, I would point out that the whole of the island is iiot required for aviation, the. proposal is that it should be leased jointly by the Shandon Golf Club and the Wellington Aero Club. Should you decide, as we feel you will, to assist us in obtaining the object we have in view, you will not only be solving the difficulties now confronting the Wellington Aero Club in respect of a solo training ground, but yov. will be helping to- establish a flying field for the Hutt Valley, and in view of the very practical interest you have always shown in aviation, this would bo a very fitting termination to your Jhirty years of sterling service in the interest of the Hutt Valley." MINISTER'S BEPLY. Eeplying to the deputation, the Minister said he would be going out of office on Saturday week, and consequently there was not much time left for him to do very much for them. In the "Gazette" to be issued on Thursday there would be published a notification of the Government's recognition of aviation authorities for the purposes of the Local Authorities Empowering. (Encouragement of Aviation) Act. Local authorities would then be empowered to spend money on the encouragement, of aviation, even if the aerodrome it was proposed to assist was not in the local authority's particular area. Thus the Wanganui Borough pouncil could assist an aero club situated in the Wanganui County. There was no separate club in the Hutt Valley, and he thought that was wise, as it was his opinion that there should be an amalgamation of the various small clubs. He would like to sea the Wairarapa clubs and the Dannevirke Club join up with Wellington and make one big club. The Government would have to exercise some care in recognising new clubs, as it was committed to the expenditure of up to '£500 a year in respect of the pilots trained. In addition, the- Government loaned aeroplanes to clubs, and that practically amounted to a gift. At the present time there was no possibility of the Government assisting civil aviation companies, as it had not the money available to do so. AMENDMENT TO LAW. Mr. Wilford said he wanted to see Gear Island used both as a landing place and as an aerodrome, but he realised that it would be necessary to spend a certain amount of money on the ground before it would be suitable. There was no power at present for the Hutt Eiver Board to lease the island to an aero club, and an amendment of the Hutt Eiver Board Empowering Act would be necessary before that could be done. The people of the Hutt Valley could not expect the Wellington Aero.Club to spend money on a ground to which there was no tenure. His advice was that a small organisation should be set up in the Hutt Valley, that it should affiliate with the Wellington Club, and that Gear Island should be used for the training of pilots. He did not anticipate that there would be any difficulty in getting an amendment to the Act through Parliament, and it was a matter for regret that that had not been done last session.

.Wing-Commander Grant-Dalton, Director of Air Services, who was present at the deputation, said that although Gear Island would not make a first-class aerodrome he considered 5t suitable for flying. It was more suitable for the training of pilots than for aviation. For the purpose of commercial flying ho would prefer Eongotai owing to its proximity to town. Eongotai was not suitable for the training of pilots owing to tl c gusty • rinds experienced there.

Mr. Wilford said he saw no reason why the Wellington Aero Club should not enter into a gentleman's agreement with the Hutt Kiver Board, pending an amendment to the Act.