'PLANE'S MESSAGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1934, Page 3

'PLANE'S MESSAGES.

DELAY IN RECEIPT.

BROADCASTING HITCH. STATEMENT BY MANAGER. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this clay. The general manager of the Broadcasting Board, in expressing disappointment to-day that there was delay in receiving messages from the Southern Cross on Saturday, said that the Government receiving station in Wellington, ZLW, had difficulty in maintaining communication with the monoplane, but eventually it received the messages addressed to the Broadcasting Board.

AMATEURS SURPRISED.

HEARD MESSAGES CLEARLY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, this day. Surprise is expressed here at reports that the Broadcasting Board had difficulty in securing messages from the Southern Cross during Saturday's flight, since the 'plane's radio messages were received with the greatest clarity in the late afternoon. Having heard the Southern Cross intimate before 7 o'clock that land had been sighted, listeners were amazed later to hear broadcasting stations read the text of a message sent at noon statin'g there was consternation aboard the 'plane. It is stated that when Sir Charles Kingsford Smith made the flight last year, radio amateurs voluntarily organised a service, with a view to assisting the authorities, but when their reports were transmitted they were informed that no assistance was required. In view of that experience no special action was taken this year, although detailed messages from the 'plane would have been available had the board desired.

ETfGI/AICD TO AUSTRALIA. KINGSFORD SMITH'S PLANS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. Sir Charles Ivingsford Smith say 6 he has finally dceided to be a competitor in the Melbourne centenary air race from England to Australia. He wanted to fly a British machine if at all practicable, but had no machine as yet. His present British machine did not have tho speed range necessary for the race, and in the event of his being unable to obtain a suitable British aeroplane there would be no option but to go outside tho Empire. The trip should take three or four days with reasonable luck, mechanically and meteorologically. This would mean travelling flat'out all the time to coyer | the necessary 3500 to 4000 miles daily.