"SAFETY FIRST."

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 233, 2 October 1928, Page 10

"SAFETY FIRST."

EVEN IF DELAY PROLONGED.

AIRMEN'S POINT OF VIEW.

"We have a responsibility to aviation generally on our shoulders, apart from the personal consideration, and if we went over and crashed we would undo at once most of what we have been able to do for aviation in the eyes of the public," said Flight-Lieutenant Ulm, when discussing with a 'Tost" reporter the postponement of the flight. "Therefore, more than ever we are sticking to our policy of 'safety first,' and whether this means a delay of a couple of days or a good deal more we still intend to and will stick to it.

"I may mention that In addition to the official letter which we received from the Prime Minister, we received a personal letter, in which he exhorted us to stay in New Zealand just as long as we wished, and not on any account to take unnecessary risks, but to be actuated by our own sane judgment, and to carry on on safe lines. We do not know Mr. Coates intimately, but we appreciate tremendously that attitude, and advice coming right from his heart. It was a thoughtful and particularly pleasing at* titude to us. Moreover, W5 fully believe that he was expressing the opinion of at least 99 per cent, of the people of New Zealand, if the other 1 per cent dislikes the delay which W3 consider wise then we are sorry, hut I am afraid ■we can't do anything more about It When conditions are right we go; until they are right we stay."