SET-BACK TO AVIATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1922, Page 2

SET-BACK TO AVIATION.

SOCKBURN AERODROME CLOSING. GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Sept. 7. The danger of the closing of the aerodrome at Sockburn was the subject of earnest discussion by members of the Canterbury Progress League last night. The president, Mr. M‘Alpine, said the executive of the League had discussed the possibility of the winding up of the Canterbury Aviation Company, with the consequent loss to the province of the very fine aerodrome and hangars at Sockburn, and it had been decided to obtain a report on the subject with special reference to the company’s position. The report had been received in the form of a letter from the chairman of the company, Mr. Wigram, who set forth the reasons why it might be necessary to give up the establishment. The company, he wrote, was started with the single object of training airmen for military service at the front as long as the war lasted and afterwards for the defence of New Zealand. During the war the company met with some success and could have paid dividends, but preferred to spend the money in improving the aerodrome. At the end of the war there was a credit balance of £5OOO and about 14 Caudron aeroplanes which, on the advice of Colonel Bettington, who had been sent out to advise the Government about aviation, were scrapped and replaced by six! Avros. Since the war the company had lost £lO,OOO and to carry on simply meant further loss to the shareholders without effecting the smallest good to anyone. The company had offered to sell to the Government and accept bonds in payment, but the offer had been declined. In the discussion which followed reference wa® made to the fact that no attempt had been made to convert the company into a commercial proposition. It was a purely patriotic endeavor for the training of pilots and the hope was always entertained that the Governent would take over the ground or enable the company to carry on the busines without loss of the capital to shareholders. It was also stressed that as aerial defence was a necessity, the Government should take over the aerodrome and use it as a training school for flying purposes. A resolution was carried unanimously that in view of the grave danger of the aerodrome at Sockburn being closed, this League urges the Government to take over the Canterbury Aviation Company’s aerodrome and training ground for the purpose of establishing a school for the training of pilots, observers and mechanics for home defence; further, that this League would regard as a calamity the failure of the Government to maintain an aerodrome in Canterbury.