Aviation Pioneer

NZ Truth, Issue 1184, 9 August 1928, Page 6

Aviation Pioneer

WHEN Kingsford. Smith, hero of the Paqiflc flight, conquers the Tasman next month, Christchurch will have the honor of being the first oity m New Zealand to extend the glad .hand of welcome to the Intrepid aviator. / That the City of the Plain's will be so favored is due primarily to the zeal and far-seeing qualities of Sir Henry Francis Wigram, who well merits the title he enjoys of the pioneer of aviation m the Dominion. ; . In the days when aeroplanes had barely succeeded m clearing the ground. Sir Henry saw with remarkable clarity of vision that aviation was the big thing of the future. • He not only dreamed of the conquest of the air, but he worked and planned to make it a reality so far as. I New Zealand was concerned. Thus it came about that he was the founder of the Canterbury Aviation Company, which began, m spite of Government arid public apathy, tp develop m this country an "air sense." Just how important was this .move of Sir Henry's was demonstrated during the. war, . for the company trained no fewer than 186 pilots for service m the British flying- units. - For years Sir Henry battled against official indifference, but— strong m hjs faith— he never once lost heart. ■ tylay he not be forgotten when the cheers ascend. ' ,