FLYING-BOAT DIVERTED

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25300, 27 September 1947, Page 8

FLYING-BOAT DIVERTED

BAD WEATHER AT WELLINGTON VISCOUNT ADDISON LANDS AT AUCKLAND (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Sept. 26. An unexpected visit to Auckland was made by Viscount Addison, K.G., F.R.C.S., Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and Leader of the House of Lords, when the Hythe flying-boat ip which he was travelling from Sydney to Wellington had to land at Auckland because of bad weather in Wellington. This is the second, occasion that an aircraft carrying a British Cabinet Minister has had to be diverted from Wellington to Auckland, The flying-boat left Sydney shortly before 4 o’clock this morning, and was expected to reach Wellington about 12.30 p.m., when Viscount Addison and his party were to disembark before the aircraft continued to Auckland. There were strong winds, with gusts up to 60 miles an nour, at the Evans Bay landing area at Wellington, and petrol was running short, so the pilot decided to land at Auckland. The aircraft .finally .landed, just after 2 p.m. A similar alteration in plans had to be made during the visit of Lord Winster, then Minister of Civil Aviation, early last year. Viscount Addison said that he and his wife were delighted to be making their first visit to New Zealand. It was an experience that they had both looked fbrwdrd to for a very long time. Although the diversion of the fly-ing-boat from Wellington had resulted in a long trip, they had been delighted with views of the fertile green fields of the country, and wjth the sight of Mount Egmofit as they flew over Taranaki. New Zealand, at the first impression, was certainly as beautiful as they had been led to- believe. Discussing the recent Commonwealth conference in Canberra, Viscount Addison said the results had been excellent. It had been the first conference of its kind to take place in a Commonwealth country outside Britain, and would no doubt be the forerunner of more. The presence of representatives. of India and Pakistan had made the sessions especially helpful. “Your Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was a very active and helpful member of the conference,” said Viscount Addison. “I was very glad he was able to be there, for he is a very good friend of mine.”

His visit to New Zealand had been shortened by three days, Viscount Addison added, because the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr C. R. Attlee, was anxious for him to return home a little earlier. Parliament would be reopening early next month, and there were urgent affairs for him to attend to. He would be returning to Britain by way of India, where he had official business.

Viscount Addison and his party were flown from Whenuapai to Wellington this afternoon.

VISCOUNT ADDISON AT WELLINGTON

From Our Own Reporter WELLINGTON, September 26. Viscount Addison landed at Paraparaumu in a Lodestar at 5.50 p.m., and went on to Wellington. Viscount Addison and Lady Addison are guests at Government House. They will stay in Wellington until October 1. Their New Zealand itinerary will probably be announced to-morrow

NEW ZEALANDERS IN CREW OF FLYING-BOAT

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, September 26. Two New Zealanders are in the crew of the Hythe flying-boat which brought Viscount Addison to New Zealand. They are the commander, Captain H. L. M. Glover, and the radio officer. Mr R. Hirst. Captain Glover, who comes from Christchurch, has visited New Zealand several times in the last few years. He took part in the delivery flight of one of the Tasman-class flying-boats for Tasman Empire Airways, and was a member of the crew which brought Lord Knollys to New Zealand on his first visit. Mr Hirst is making his first trip to New Zealand since the war. Both men served with the Royal Air Force in England before taking up their present appointments with the British Overseas Airways Corporation.