FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0702.PDF
NOVEMBER 6, 1909. THE MISCHIEF-MAKING AT THE MANSION HOUSE. THE so-called "conference" avowedly in the interests of aviation, announced to take place at the Mansion House on Thursday evening of last week, was attended by some 200 persons. That it in no way fulfilled the expressed objects of any programme of its conveners —the Aeroplane Club—there is little room to doubt. The main object of the meeting was to discuss the formation of a representative National Council to control and encourage aviation in this country. Major Baden-Powell presided. Among societies represented were the Aeroplane Club of Great Britain, the Leicestershire Aero Club, the Northumberland Aero Club, the Midland Aero Club, the Kite- Flying Association of Great Britain, the South-West of England Aeronautical Society, the Scottish Aeronautical Society, and the Sheffield Aero Society. Mr. Windham, in introducing the Chairman, stated that Sir David Salomons was to have taken the chair, but he understood Sir David was told that the meeting was not held in accordance with the rules of a certain aero club, and that consequently if he presided he would be, like himself, a disqualified member.* They were very pleased, however, to have with them Major Baden-Powell. The Chairman, in opening, said that the meeting was not a meet- ing of the Aeroplane Club, which had only convened the gathering in order that the present position of aviation might be discussed. He wished to make it clear that he was present only as a private individual, and not as a representative of any particular organisation. Aviation was of great importance to English people, not merely because it was a new method of travel but because of the military possibilities. Recent meetings at Rheims, Doncaster, and Black- pool had drawn public attention to the matter. Our national repu- tation was at stake. France and America had led the way ; we were behind. The meeting was called to consider the best means of fostering the growth of British aviation. There might be differ- ences of opinion as to how this control should be carried out, and that was a question which had to be decided. He thought he voiced the general opinion in saying that national control for such a stupendous national work was beyond the power and scope of any single club. There must be a central, independent, and absolutely representative association. He moved the following resolution :— "That this meeting is in favour of the formation of a repre- sentative National Council to control the sport and encourage the development of the science of aviation ; such Council to consist of delegates representing all British Aeronautical and kindred Clubs and Associations and of representatives of His Majesty's Naval, Military, and Civil Services ; and that this meeting favours the convening of a meeting to consider the course to be taken, in accord- ance with the resolution passed at the meeting of representatives of various clubs at Blackpool last week ; and that copies of this reso- lution be forwarded to all clubs and associations interested in aviation." This was seconded by Mr. Pepper, of the Midland Aero Club. Mr. Delacombe, as a member of a society of which the Chairman was vice-president, asked if Major Baden-Powell took the chair in accordance with the wishes of the Aeionautical Society. The Chairman : I do not know that that has anything to do with the resolution. Mr. Delacombe: With regard to the resolution before the meeting, I would remind you that the wording of the resolution passed by the various clubs at Blackpool last week was as follows :— " That the clubs and societies interested in aviation be invited to nominate three members each, to form a committee to meet repre- sentatives of the Aero Club of London to discuss the question of concerted action, with a view to advising the members of their respective clubs." That, I believe, is the correct wording of the resolution. Mr. Delacombe then went on to point out out that the Aerial League, the Aero Club, and the Aeronautical Society had worked disinterestedly to advance the science and sport of aviation. It was peculiar for a new body to suggest control. That meeting was in opposition to the Aerial League, the Aeronautical Society, and the Aero Club. The Chairman asked if Mr. Delacombe represented the Aero Club, or whether he was present as a private individual. Mr. Delacombe : I am here as one deeply interested in aero- nautics and as a member of the three bodies I have mentioned. The Chairman : I may say I am the same. Mr. Delacombe : That is the very reason I fail to understand your presence in the chair at this meeting. Mr. Speranza (secretary of the Doncaster Meeting) said that Mr. Frost, President of the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain, had sent him a message of congratulation on the success of the * Needless to say, this statement of Mr. Windham's is an absurdity.—ED. Doncaster Meeting, but from the attitude with regard to the proposal to have a National Council, he thought Mr. Frost must have been pulling his leg. Sir William Bailey (Manchester Aero Club) hoped that no narrow-minded feeling would interfere with the progress of aviation. Mr. Windham asked what the Aero Club had done compared with the Aeroplane Club, and gave a list of the achievements of the latter organisation, but the chairman thought it would be useless to discuss who gave the biggest dinner to Bleriot. Mr. Holyrod Smilh moved to omit from the resolution the words " control the sport," and the words after the word "taken" in the seventh line, and to add a rider reading " That until an association is formed, it is premature for any existing body to assume the right of control of aviation in this country either for sport or otherwise." Mr. Bickmore seconded. The Secretary to the Midland Aero Club: I do not wish to monopolise the discussion, but it seems to me I am called upon to throw some light upon the meeting of Blackpool. This matter was very thoroughly discussed; we all realised it was a very delicate question, and it was handled with great care. The proposition put before the meeting at Blackpool had the entire approval of all the clubs in the country. Mr. Roger Wallace was there, and he gave us full particulars, and we rose from that meeting with great respect for him, and I believe he went away with great respect for us. This meeting has been called by the Aeroplane Club, and they are in entire sympathy and entire approval of that proposition put before the meeting last week. Now, Gentlemen, the position is this: all the clubs are agreed upon a certain line of action to bring about a general or National Council, which shall control the sport of aviation. There is no question of a hole and corner business or of electing a Committee or a National Council from anyone assembled to deal with the sport of the whole country. We realise that the question has been considered for weeks or months before it is settled, and to do that it is only fair and right and proper that every club in the country should have a voice in the matter, and in order that every club shall have a voice in the matter, they are called upon to elect from their members three delegates to deal with the question before such a committee, and that committee shall then confer with the representatives of the Aero Club. Now, Gentlemen, it seems to me that was a right step towards forming a National Council to deal with this difficult problem, and I am sure it is only upon those lines that you will be able to solve it. If we attempt to have any further proposition and then to arrange some committee, we shall fall to the ground and get bickering and quarrelling, and we shall make ourselves the laughing-stock of the world. What we want to do is to agree first of all that the whole of the clubs throughout the country, and through the clubs the whole of the people throughout the country, who are interested, shall send their representatives to a committee and form part of the committee which shall then discuss it with the Aero Club and Aeronautical Society, and I am sure out of that combination we shall have wisdom as the result, and we shall form a general National Council which will be a credit to the country and to the sport. Mr. Pepper : I am sorry I must oppose the amendment for two reasons ; first, because we of the provincial clubs do not see any reason why we should not have some voice in the control of the sport. Next, the meeting that was held at Blackpool was of no importance except that it focussed in a non-contentious way the views of the clubs represented and gave all an opportunity of meeting. The Aero Club happened to be those who summoned it. They are of no more importance amongst the clubs than any other club. I am afraid the last words would be regarded as offensive to the Aero Club and would not promote that settlement of the question that we desire. Personally, I should have to vote against the amendment. Mr. Holyrod Smith : I proposed to leave out the words " control the sport" in order to put the association on a somewhat higher level. But if you gentlemen who are so fond of sport think that it is of so very much higher importance than the development of the science of aviation, then I must so leave it. After further discussion, the meeting did not agree to take the element of sport from the resolution, but agreed to the words being added. Upon this, Mr. Pepper withdrew his seconding of the resolution. Mr. Percy Thornton, M.P., suggested that it would be better for aviation if there was unity, without which the Government could never do anything handsome for the science. Finally the meeting rejected the rider, and carried the original resolution. In connection with this Mansion House meeting, and the remarks which we made upon it last week, Mr. A. B. E. Cheeseman, the Secretary of the Aeroplane Club, has written to us enclosing a copy of the communication which was circulated by him to the daily Press 704
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
