WAIKATO PROTEST

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 66, 10 December 1937, Page 5

WAIKATO PROTEST

Press Association.)

Non-Recognition of Aero Club

(By Telefiraph —

HAMILTON, This Day. Strong censure of the Government's action :n refusing to Tecognise the Waikato Aero Club was voiced at a public meeting at Hamilton last evening, when a motion was carried unanimously "that this meeting expresses full confidence in the committee of tho Waikato Aero Club, and pledges its active support; and that the attitude of the Minister of Defence, as outlined in the report presented, was unjust and unfair and was strongly resented as a slight on the Waikato district. This meeting is of the -opinion.' that, while the Government recognises clubs in other districts, it demands at least equal treatment for the Waikato." It was the contention of the chairman, Mr O. B. Smith, that the Minister of Defence treated their application in a most unfair manner, as no application made had so much merit. His actions were an insult to the Waikato and to ,the pioneering work the club had done in aviation. Mr Smith pointed out there were elevqn recognised aero clubs in the Dominion. Originally there were eigbt and the Government had said it would not have any more, but had not abided by that. Clubs were formed and, applying for recognition from time to time, were duly recognised. The Minister who had power to do so, stated he would not recognise the club in the Waikato. This was a serious blow as, without Government recognitio'n, the Waikato club could not belong to the New Zealand Aero Club and thus could not share in any assistance the Government had to oft'er.