AERO CLUB’S PROGRESS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1002, 19 June 1930, Page 1

AERO CLUB’S PROGRESS

1,300 PERSONS CARRIED WITHOUT MISHAP GOOD FINANCIAL OUTLOOK Private flying in Auckland is growing in popularity, and this fact could not have been better demonstrated than by the large number of members which attended the annual meeting of the Auckland Aero Club last evening. Tho annual report and balance sheet indicated an unusually sound position financially, it being shown that £386 was the working profit for the year. wTiilo £12,624 was the profit shown as a result of the art union.

Mr. Spencer Mason, who presided, said it was indeed a pleasure to move the adoption of a report and balance sheet which disclosed such a satisfac tory state of affairs within less thar* two years. The po icy of the committee had been conservative. This was necessary for, if the committee made a false move or any difficulty arose out of slackness, the foundation's of the club w'ould crumble. One function of the club was to establish confidence in flying, and the result had been that during the year the club’s planes had carried more than 1,300 passengers without a single mishap or without the slightest cause for fear.

Two of the club-trained pilots, Messrs. R. J. Crosbie and L. Anderson, bad been tentatively admitted to the Royal Air Force, and three others. Messrs. T. B. Philcox, G.-M. Firth and E. Luks, had completed 40 hours’ flying, and were now entitled to carry a passenger. It was with regret that the committee received the resignations of several of its foundation members. Captains J. Seabrook, W. S. R. Bloomfield and E. Dickson and Mr. W. A. Boucher. The club was very deeply indebted to those ex-pilots, who had brought into it a spirit of caution and care that was the outcome of long association with flying. In seconding the motion, Mr. E. C. Huie made reference to the excellent financial position. Although another year had passed without the establishment of an organised flying service in New Zealand, he was of the opinion that such a service was not far distant. One commercial company already employed an airplane and a qualified pilot, and there was reason to believe that in another 12 months many firms would b© keeping their own machines. ELECTION CF OFFICERS

Officers for the year were elected as follow:—President, Mr. S. R. Mason; club captain, Mr. E. R. Boucher; lion, secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. W. Swan; committee, Messrs. S. A. Andrew, F. B. Cadman, C. W. CoryWright, I. C. Horton, C. M. Richwhite and C. G. Scrimgeour; auditor, Mr. G W. Hutchison.

The following were added to the list of last year’s vice-presidents who were re-elected:—Mr. R. Burns, Mr. E. Horton, Mr. G. Henning, Mr. W. A. Boucher, Captain J. Seabrook, Captain W. S. R. Bloomfield and Captain E. Dickson.

Offers of trophies for club competitions from Major K. L. Caldwell and Mr. F. W. Thorne were accepted with thanks.

A vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring president, Mr. Robert Burns, for his interest, in the foundation of the club and his contribution toward its progress in the early stages.