AVIATION

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 7

AVIATION

AERO CLUB’S ANNUAL MEETING SUCCESSFUL YEAR IN REVIEW The ninth annual meeting of the Otago Aero Club was held in the Somerset Lounge last night. Mr 1. H. Penrose (president) was in the chair. The official guests of the evening included the major (the Rev. E. T. Cox), Crs A.' H. Allen and M. Silverstone, Messrs J. L, Gardiner and E.Wood (of the Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association), Mr Newman K. Wilson (of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce), and Mr J. S. Skinner (of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association). 1 ' PRESIDENT’S REMARKS. The year had been one in • which aviation had made great strides, said the Chairman, in moving the adoption of the annual report and balance' sheet. The club and the _ people of Dunedin had seen the erection of terminal facilities and the start of a trunk line air service. In the - magnitude of its equipment this _ service might almost be ahead of visible demand, but members felt that the directors of Union Airways had been wise in planning for to-morrow rather than to-day, and that the use of aerial transport in all its forms would, as was the experience of every country in the world, expand far beyond the present capacity of the company. To this pioneer company the club offered its sincere wish that the venture might bo a profitable one. During the past year the official South Island pageant was held at the Taieri airport, and though the weather conditions were of the worst, a really creditable display, was put up by the pilots of New Zealand clubs and by the officers of R.N.Z.A.F., who saved the day from the spectators’ viewpoint. In this connection, he could not pass over the really tremendous amount of hard work put in by the committee. Every man, for over two months, gave every attention to his section of the work of the pageant. He was sure that no president of the club would ever have a better team of workers, and his deepest thanks were due to them. This year also saw the start of the work by the Public Works Department in surfacing the aerodrome. This had been a long job, and while it had entailed some inconvenience to the pilots and trainees, it had certainly improved the airport. With the really excellent surface now made, the general efficiency of the airport had been improved a great deal. Planes could now take ott very much more quickly than was possible under the old conditions.^ Turning to the growth of civil and military aviation that had taken place throughout the world durmg the last year, Mr Penrose said he thought that it ought safely to be assumed that the peoples of every nation were now aware of the possibilities of air transport. Aviation was undoubtedly one of the greatest blessings of this generation, but it was also potentially one of its greatest dangers, and may well , destroy the very civilisation that developed it. He was sure that they had a greater sense of security now that they knew Great Britain was feverishly developing and increasing its air atm. He used the word “ feverishly ” with deliberation, as he felt that without an adequate air force the Mother Country could not be the stabilising force for peace that was desired by everyone—a position which Great Britain herself now fully realised. Too often had the public been soothed with the syrupy platitude that British planes and pilots were superior to those of any other nation. Political expressions of that kind were both definitely untrue and wickedly misleading in the sense of false security that they; gave._ Without in any way disparaging British aircraft, it was only very recently that British manufacturers started to fit variable pitch propellers, retractable undercarriages, and all-metal wings and fuselages. These essentials of fast aeroplanes had been pioneered by other countries. The most hopeful sign _ on the horizon on British aircraft design was the fact that the Air Ministry was now prepared to allow designers to build and incorporate their own ideas into an aeroplane which would, if satis-' factory, be adopted by the R.A.F. In the past the manufacturers had to build to Air Ministry designs, which were often obsolete by the time they reached the factory. Under the present arrangement it ought confidently to be expected that British aircraft would be the equal of any in the world. In fact, tangible proof of this was already seen in some of the latest types just produced. It was gratifying to find that the present New Zealand Government was also fully alive to the necessity of increasing the strength of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and was obtaining expert opinion from England. It was pleasing to see present that evening the mayor of the city and several of the councillors. Members of the club were glad to observe their increasing interest both in the club and their own property. Dunedin citizens now had a city airport of which they might justly feel proud, and one which, in comparison with other centres, had cost them a notably small amount of the city’s funds. The Otago Aero Club was only the administrator of Dunedin’s airport, and this property, growing in .value every year, was one of the best investments the council had ever made. Members were glad, also, to find that the Dunedin City Corporation was taking active steps to provide an emergency landing ground at Waikouaiti, which was badly needed. The mayor had always taken a keen interest in aviation, and members well knew how good a friend he had been to the club. Much of his work was ->unknown to the members, but he (Mr Penrose) knew from personal _ contact, especially in connection with the M‘Gregor benefit concert, how much time he was willing to give. The Otago Aero Club had always been very well served by the City Council representatives on the committee, and fhis year in particular in Mr J. J. Marlow and Mr Shepherd it had been extremely fortunate. While they both watched the city’s interests with a very critical eye, they were enthusiasts, and the club certainly did receive the benefit of their mature judgment and ungrudging hard work. In conclusion Mr Penrose extended his thanks to the associate members of the club, and paid a tribute to the committee, the flying members, and the staff, all of whom had supported him loyally during the year. The motion was seconded by Mr W. H. Shepherd and carried. OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows: —Patron, Mr Charles Todd; president, Mr W. D. Taylor; vice-president, Mr W. H. Shepherd; executive—Messrs A. E. Ansell, S. P. Cameron, M. R. Greenslade, M. Myers, G. Herbert, J. Trengrove, and two others to he appointed by the city council; auditor, JVIr J, A. Robinson.

MAYOR’S CONGRATULATIONS*. In a short address the Mayor congratulated the club on the success of the. year’s operations, and commended the important work it was Aloing on behalf of the community. To his mind aviation was the most important development of modern times. It bade fair to revolutionise the mode of travel. In a few ! years they would look b'apk and wonder how they managed so long with the much slower, methods of train and road transport. Added to the swiftness of air travel, there was tl» pleasure of wide And far-spreading, views, which were impossible from the .ground. The only thing that prevented air travel in New Zealand making much - more rapid strides was its cost. This would gradually he overcome and the rapid return to prosperity envisaged by the great advance in the value of New Zealand exports would do much to assist commercial enterprise in this connection.

• In the early. days; of interprovincial communications, the. Government of the day gave subsidies to enable profitable services to be run by the shipping companies. These began at a cost.ot £6,000 per annum and reached as high as £40,000 -per annum. "If,‘in those distant days, this sum could he made available to .ensure comfortable and rapid transit for .the people, there was no reason why £IOO.OOO per annum should not be available to pioneer air traffic to-day. He was -not one of those, the Mayor continued, who opposed . subsidies ,to private companies which were doing a great; pioneering work. The city looked with interest on the doings of the Aero Club, recognising that it was doing a .great work in encouraging flying, and in providing jumping-off facilities for commercial aviation.‘ The‘aerodrome was the city’s property and. every improvement the club made was an added asset to the community. The council was approaching the Government to get on with the work of preparing the auxiliary landing ground at ‘Waikouaiti, so that air travellers would be assured of getting in* of out of the city matter what the weather conditions might be. Representatives of the other bodies present extended their congratulations and Crs Silverstone arid Allen also spoke.

RETIREMENT OF MR PATERSON. The retiring president expressed the gratitude which the club felt towards Mr H. L. Paterson, who was severing his connection with the executive or the club. Mr Paterson was one of the foundation members, and it was with very deep regret that his resignation was received. He had through the various offices from executive member to president, which position he held for three years. He had always given his unstinted help whenever ho had been asked. Without his knowledge the pageant at the aerodrome would not have been the success it was. On behalf of the dub members, Mr Penrose then presented to. Mr Paterson a desk set as a token of their respect and gratitude for ms work for the club. Thanking the members ■_ for their generosity; Mr Paterson said he was retiring from the executive as he considered that it was time that some of the younger members should step forward. The time he had spent with the Aero Club was one of the happiest experiences in his life. He had gone into the club in its very early stages in order to report on the state of the aerodrome at .Green Island. He was not a member then, but had attended the meetings when the club possessed no aerodrome, no money, and no plane. Then Mr H. E. Barrowclough and Mr A. H. Allen had come in with a definite objective. The speaker then went on to recall the parly days of the club, which to-day had one of the best aerodromes iu New Zealand, not for size, but for situation. The young men ho had met during his association with the club, said Mr Paterson, were of the finest type, and; he was willing to help them at all times. VOTE OF THANKS. On the motion of Mr Shepherd, » motion of thanks to the ground, instructional, and office staffs was- carried.