CIVIL AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1932, Page 2

CIVIL AVIATION

PROGRESS :IN NEW ZEALAND

PURCHASE OF THREE NEW ' planes.

WELLINGTON,- November 7

The Government intends to purchase three aeroplanes for the New Zealand Aero Club, and to provide for suba’dies for th© training, of a hundred club pilots this .year. This means an increase of tan pilots,., compared with the number of subsidised pilots last year. These facts were announced by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) this morning in replying to- a deputation which waited on him and the Prime. Minister (the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes). '.

The deputation was from the New Zealand Aero Club, representing ufne flying dubs in active operation in the Dominion, Canterbury was represented by Flight-Lieutenant J. C. .Mercer. The president of the club, Mr G. M. Spence, said- that flying clubs had only fifteen machines on. loan from the Government, In place of thirty-four which would have been provided under the original arrangement. The clubs had purchased twenty, -less five which had been written off as a result of crashes. Dm ing the past year losseg sustained by the clubg amounted to £SOOO, and the clubs had spent between £45,000 and £50,000, on plant,, landing grounds nnd hangars. REQUESTS OF THE CLUBS.

The deputation wished th© Government to make a direct vot© for eMI aviation, to restore the, maximum subsidy of £SOO to each club, to restore the subsidy of £22 10s for each clubtrained pilot, with ’£lo for each renewal p-f flying license and 10s an hour for flying dm© until each club had earned the annual subsidy of £SOO, to provide five aeroplanes annually for clubs until the number which would have .been reached under the original agreement was attained, and' to appoint a Director of Civil Aviat’on who could also ; be 'Director of Military Aviation. ‘ A request also was made for the issue of an art union permi t in order that capital ;migbt be raided for a mutual insurance fund.

Mr R. Spencer Mason, vice-president, j asked for an amendment to the law permitting Sunday flying. He said that all other forms of transport were permitted to conduct business on Sundays, but. when the Act was jbqnsolidated flying had not really begun, in New inland. At the present time it was, illegal; according to tKe decision of some magistrates, to hire an aeroplane to convey a doctor to an urgent, case on. a Sunday, He asked that , prosecutions, which were a source of , great annoyance, should cease. .'i- ., .The Minister of Defence said that this year '£12,000 had been made -available for aviation and this would enable the ■’. purchase - of' ;■ three hew machines for dubs and the, training of 10Q pilots at' a subsidy of £22. J.os each,. Aviation was . deserving of encouragement, but the financial; position iof thie epuntty had to be considered. The •''position in regard to flyl n^ [ would be investigated, as would also: th© question of making a direct grant to ciyil aviation. The latter matter was one for the Government itself. Mr Forbes said , the Government would have been pleased to carry out th© original programme had it not, been for the financial condition of the country! Th© Government would like to make a better showing in regard to aviation, but the position would have to b© very carefully watched. He promised consideration to 1 t-hie requests.