GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR KYEEMA CRASH

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1938, Page 9

GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOR KYEEMA CRASH

COUNSEL'S ADDRESS.

Alleged Delay in Supply of Radio Beacons.

LOOSE ADMINISTRATION

United Press A.eoeLtlon.-Copyrlght.

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

MULBOURXK. this dav

After 21 day* (he hearing of evidenno in tho Kyeema crash inquiry • ndod yesterday, and counsel addresses begun. Mr. t,co Lite for tho Air Pilots' and Navigators' In.t tute, blamed the Federal Government for the crash. He condemned the administration of lie Hv, aviation control, alleging that tlio radio beacons could have been operating six or 12 months affo. He eharped the administration with a eertam amount of looseness, mal- • .(ministration and lack of co-ordina-tion. Mr. Littln suggctcl that the MlnUter • I Uvl Aviation, Mr. H. V. Thorby, •hould be railed to explain the decision not to call tenders for tho beacons delays in punhnsr, or the hire of a machine for tejta of the beacons. Counsel's request was considered by the committeo, which announced that the beacona were not delayed and the iailure to rail tenders was no reason lor calling Mr. Thorby.

Continuing. Mr. Little naid that the unfortunate pilot, Captain A. Webb, would never have had to make the decision he did nnd the )7 others aboard ■would have hren alive to-day if there had been a beacon.

"The curse of it in that the beacon rould have been functioning elx or 12 months ago," declared counsel.