FLYING ON SUNDAY

Hokitika Guardian, 20 September 1932, Page 7

FLYING ON SUNDAY

HIRE OF. AEROPANES. 0 POLICE charges dismissed. . AUCKLAND, September 17. “We want to encourage flying, and Sunday is ithe only possible time for young -people "to--go■ up,” said Mr 1 F. 1 K. 'Hunt, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, .when he dismissed charges oi Sunday trading brought against/ officials of the Auckland Aero Club. The club’s instructor and pilot, Lieutenant D, M. Allan, was charged \ with carrying on his trade on I'Sunday oil two occasions, whole two charges, each of keeping the club’s premises open on Sunday for the purpose of transacting business, were brought against the club captain, E, R, Boucher, and secretary, L. W Swan.

Detective-Sergeant McHugh said that complaints had been received by the police, and two constables ) who were sent do Maingere Aerodrome, found that flying was taking place, and that machines were plying for hire on Sunday, / “Why should they not?” asked thcMagistrate. “Taxi-cabs, omnibuses, and rail wav transport services do it.” Mr McHugh read the section of the Police Offences Act under which the charges were laid. Counsel for the dub said there had been a similar car e in Wanganui, where a' decision in favour of the defendant had been given. While it was not binding in the present case he did not think the Court would disturb it a" the cages were similar.

“What chance have people to fly except on Sunday?” asked Mr Hunt. “What about people going in omnibuses to Titimngi?” M'r McHugh: I suppose ther e is a lot to be said for it. The Magistrate : I kno\v the portion. Someone has instructed you to prosecute. but I am not roing to convict. Counsel, who said the club was not a trading concern acquirin' profits, ■quoted a decision by Mr Siimon, S.M., at Wanganui, where it was held that an aeroplone was a carriage and came within the exemptions contained in the (Act. “The whol e thing is absurd. 1 can hire a taxi-cab to drive round the waterfront, hut ! am not allowed to fly over it,” .said Mr Hunt, who dismissed all the charges.