WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Taihape Daily Times, 14 November 1917, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

FLYING. HELPING TO WIN THE WAR. (Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON Nov 12. -viaiiy oil tut; \isitors to cue Canterbury uannvai vveeK. nave returned num tne Soutn more impressed witii uiey saw of hue Canterbury Avi—v,i company's flying School at : oooriourn tuan with the splendid race lor ije New Zealand cup at Kiccarton or ilie line mspiay or stock at the bno\v at Adcun&con. Tne management of the School has been altogether too diffident in advertising ito patriotic work and many people stni are under the impression that its inurougiily equipped establishment, ..uich already has turned out a conof pupils with their ,-iv, s certificate, is merely a cominbicial undertaking. This is very iar irom being tne truth_ The school was originally promoted by Mr H. F. wigram, who, long beiore the war, was urging iiom his place in the Leg.oiaLivc council that the aeroplane ..ao io pray an important" part in me ucutmoe oi' tue Empire and that New cugnt to be preparing to take as part in tnis new development. IRE SCHOOL. »xr -wigram tailed to make much upon the politicians

.-uui,u uicy uu admitted the sounu--oj ~_ mo contentions, and when tite ..-X oiuKe out and his own predictions were on the point of realisation ne submitted his scheme for the establishment of a flying school to the patriotic people' of Canterbury. It made nccie appeal to tne purely commercial man ; as dividends were not a.xiong the direct advantages it was ...peeled to bring to the investor, but

..it enthusiasm proved infectious and' very soon the necessary capital to give it practical expression was available. A block of suitable land, some 130 acres in extent, about seven or eight miles from Christchurchy was secured and it is here the School is now established, equipped with three large hangars, each capable of housing three aeroplanes, a. workshop, supplied with electric power from Lake Coleridge and fitted with modern machinery, and up-to-date quarters for the Instructor and his pupils. ITS OB'JECTS. What Mr Wigram. and his colleagues in this patriotic enterprise set our to do was to provide at a min-

iuuni cost to the pupils a thorough preliminary training for young New Zealanders' anxious to devote themselves to the flying service of the Empire. They were lucky enough with the assistance of the Government and the High Commissioner, to secure Mr Cecil McKenzie Hill, one of the most distinguished flying men of the Old Country and a highly-skil-led mechanic, as instructor and under this gentleman's management and direction the School has realised the most sanguine expectations of its promoters. Of course the" pupils' training is not completed in New Zealand. After taking the pilot's certificate, which they may do after six weeks or two months of" study and practice, they are sent Home to undergo a further course of instruction which may include a variety of subjects, such as map-reading, wireless, signalling, navigation and so forth, that could not be taught here except at large additional expense. PUPILS. The thoroughness of the instruction provided by the School has been proved by the marked efficiency of the pupils it has prepared for the further course prescribed by the Royal Flying Corps. The excellence of its equipment is open for everyone to see_ What it wants now is pupils more pupils and still more pupils! The way is made easy for any young man with the necessary spirit, physical stamina and education. He must, be of British parentage, between eighteen and twenty-five years of age and capable of passing a stiff medical examination. The training here is not free, but the cost to the pupil or his friends is made so low that it is hoped no suitable youth will be debarred from taking the preliminary course, and with his pilot's certificate in his pocket he will find the door to opportunity and achievement thrown wide open to him.