TEN YEARS OF GOOD WORK.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1939, Page 4

TEN YEARS OF GOOD WORK.

ALTHOUGH its activities are brought, to a standstill lor lhe lime being, Hie Wairarapa and liiiahine Aero (’lub is entitled to lake pride in what it has accomplished during lhe ten years ol its existence and not least in the contribution it has made, as an organisation, to the defence of Hie Dominion and the Empire. Five members of the (duh are serving in Hie Royal Air Force in the main war theatres. Nineteen others have joined the New Zealand Air Force or oilier branches of lhe Defence forces. In addition there is a. fairly numerous reserve of pilots trained by the club, many of them above lhe age limits for the Air Force, but. whose services would be available in an emergency. With other organisations of its kind throughout the Dominion, the club has thus rendered notable service in laying foundations on which it is now possible to build in organising rapidly a strong Air Force.

In the domain of civil aviation also, the club has a most commendable record. Though lhe Wairarapa is not yet included in the main air routes of the Dominion, the club’s planes lor years have not. only provided a link with these routes, but have carried on an independent service in which passengers have been conveyed swiftly and safely to distant destinations. There is evidence, too,-of capable organisation and of skilled service, as well as of good fortune, in the fad that the history of lhe club to date, as is stated in the report presented on Tuesday evening “has not been marred by any accidents involving loss of life, thus justifying the claim Ilia! air transport has proved to be both rapid and safe.”

There is no doubt that when the war is over, lhe eluh will be able not only to resume, but to enlarge and extend its activities. With air transport in operation from end Io end of the Dominion and lhe Tasman service definitely inaugurated, though under some limitations while the war continues, (lie scope ol' enterprise for the Wairarapa and liiiahine (’lub naturally will be broadened very considerably. At the stage it has readied. Hie club justifies very handsomely the enterprise and public spirit ol’ those by whom it was established and has been developed so notable. If. may be hoped that years are coming in which this dub and others will serve their principal purpose in mailing «iir t ransport more and more a usd id and helpful factor in. the peacefid. progress of the Dominion