AN OPEN MIND

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 21, 25 July 1945, Page 8

AN OPEN MIND

AERO CLUB FUTURE

PETROL A PROBLEM

Opening the annual meeting of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club today, the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), in reply to a hope expressed by the president (Mr. W. H. Shepherd) that the future of the aero club movement —suspended on the outbreak of war— should now be indicated, said that up to the present the Government had not given the question consideration, for the war was not yet over. He had an open mind and would he prepared to carry any reasonable suggestions to the Government. He indicated, however, that he personally favoured weekend activities, rather than those that would involve the employment of full-time instructors and other personnel. *

Mr. Jones said he did not see any immediate prospect of the easing of the petrol position.

Welcoming the Minister, Mr. Shepherd said it was likely that plenty of aircraft would very shortly become available —there were enough Tiger Moths at Taieri, now to be closed down, to set all the aero clubs going again. The de Havilland .Aircraft Company had offered a plan to supply engineering facilities, and there was reason to believe that suitable instructors could be released from the Services. They had also the idea that there was ample petrol in the country to enable aero clubs to be re-estab-lished.

MOTORING AND FLYING

Flying, he suggested, should be given the same consideration as was motoring, but whereas supplies were entirely withdrawn from aero clubs, motorists had retained a small issue, which recently had been improved, and which, he believed, was shortly to be increased again. Aero clubs should share in the same way in the improved petrol supply. All demobilised airmen were made members of aero clubs, which would be the voice of a great many people, who were continually hammering at their clubs to know when, they were to be able to fly again; thousands more wanted to learn to fly. The clubs had undoubtedly been of great value and service before the outbreak of war, and he beiieved that they would be of equal service after the war.

DEBT TO CLUB MOVEMENT,

The Minister acknowledged the debt which the Government and the country owed to the aero club movement in the training of men before the outbreak of war. Between 1936 and 1939 450 men, many of whom were trained largely by the clubs, were sent to the United Kingdom, and at the outbreak of war there w.ere 690 trained personnel, plus three territorial squadrons and the civil reserve; club trainees had given magnificent service ih all parts of the world. Mr. Jones recalled the taking over, of necessity, of club planes, personnel, and equipment, and the assistance which that had been at the time. I Today the position was changed, continued Mr. Jones. A large number of men were returning to this country, and over 3.800 would be back before the end of the year. Many of these had not completed their full service, but the majority would have served their full tours of duty, or three years of service. Some would be still keen to take on further service and some who had not completed their full term might be used in the Pacific.

WAR NOT OVER YET.

Many people had the idea that now that the war in Europe was over that ended the war as far as New Zealand was concerned, but the majority did not think that, said Mr. Jones. When the Pacific war was over then it would be possible for aero clubs to resume the activities of pre-war years. He could not lay down the future of the aero club movement at this stage of the war because the Government had not yet given it consideration.4 An Air Force would be necessary in New Zealand after the war, but to what extent aero clubs would be embodied in post-war organisation he could not say. An immense improvement had been made in aerodrome facilities and aircraft could be made available, but the remarks made about the probable increase in petrol supplies were wishful thinking; he could not see the likelihood of any marked increase for motoring or for any other use in the immediate future. Mr. Jones suggested that the meeting should place before him suggestions which might be embodied in the policy to be drawn up, but he indicated his thought that flying activities by clubs should be mainly at the weekends and should not in the meantime be such as to require the services of full-time instructors. The clubs might also consider their relations with the A.T.C., and whether refresher courses should be conducted by the Government, the aero clubs, or a combination of both. He was fully sympathetic with the aims of the movement and he would be very ready to take any scheme suggested to the Government for its consideration, but he did not think that such a scheme should be ambitious. The chairman frankly expressed disappointment with the Minister's statement; which, he said, told them really nothing; plainly, they would have to go after the Government if they were to make headway. It was, however, promising that the Government was willing to receive suggestions, which might be embodied in a policy as yet not formulated, as in contrast to receiving suggestions after a policy had been drawn up and decided upon.

DEPARTMENT'S INTEREST,

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air ViceMarshal L. M. Isitt, the Secretary of the Air Department, Mr. T. A. Barrow, and the Acting Director of Civil Aviation, Mr. J. M. Buckeridge, addressed the meeting briefly. There was not, they agreed, reason for pessimism over the future of the aero club movement, the value of which in the past had been so fully recognised by the Government and the Department, and which should possess a real future value. The question was: When was the opportune time for recommencement of aero club activities?

Mr. Barrow said that the post-war price of training planes in New Zealand would probably be determined largely by prices overseas; Australia was selling light planes for £200 down to £100. Petrol and hangar space were two difficult problems; where the Air Force had been able to relinquish certain fields their buildings were still required as storage for wool. Mention was made by Mr. Buckeridge of the greatly-advanced standard of ground facilities as a result of war requirements and of the intention to retain such facilities, instead of scrapping them forthwith, until post-war requirements were ascertained.