FLYING TUITION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1932, Page 2

FLYING TUITION

FOR HOKITIKA PUPILS. BY CANTERBURY AERO CLUB. A .scheme to train pupils in dying at Hokitika was discussed by the" Canterbury Aero Club, at its meeting on Tuesday night. Requests, had been received from local enthusiasts; and it was finally decided to take on the work as an experiment, .the Club's instructor, Mr J. CL .Mercer, being deputed to give lessons in Hokitika for a week at various times.

The matter was brought up in the instructor's report. He said that the hioki'tika people, who had formed a small club of their own, had invited him over to the Coast ; and he had gone and had given them gome advice on the preparation of their landing field and on the cost of instruction. When he was in Hokitika the enthusiasts there asked him to request the Canterbury Club to take over training operations in tin. district. They were willing to supply the aerodrome and hangar acc.j....i.i>daiu>n. tic informed them that it would in* possible to visit them only once a month, and 'they were agreeable to tills, as none of their pupils could afford to pay down. £SO in a lump sum. There were approximately e,ight pupils who wished to start training. Mr .Mercer said he had applied to the Director ni Air Serv'ces for permission (° train pupils nl Hokitika. Tentative permission was granted in the Directin' of Air .Service.' reply, with reservations referring to the state of tli? lauding ground and other matters. 'The secretary, Mr I’. R. Oiimie, said that if U.e club did not take ibis matter up, somebody el.se would. After discussion, it w;i s decided to ask the .V w Zeal..id Ai ,v, Chib to allocate the Westland territory to the •(.'a iKerbiuy l'Lib. Then if should he possible to undertake the tuition of Hokitika pupils, a.s an experiment, at the rale charged in Canterbury for training, with tlm addition of one pound a .lav for a emit rbint i.on .|o the club ami tin • spells, s. This was t . b hi so lo.ig .as the Hoi, tika people, ina i ill a i lied eight pupils.