THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1963. Sir Leonard Isitt Leaves T.E.A.L.

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30092, 28 March 1963, Page 14

THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1963. Sir Leonard Isitt Leaves T.E.A.L.

If the robust faith of Sir; Leonard Isitt in the future of Tasman Empire Airways is justified, as seems certain, that will be in considerable part the fruit of his endeavours. He steps down from the board table of T.E.A.L (and of the National Airways Corporation) after nearly 50 years of varied but always enthusiastic sen-ice to aviation. not only in New! Zealand but internationally 1 He was one of the pioneers of military flying—first in' the old Royal Flying Corps, and in the Royal Air Force,; and then in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, which he helped to establish. Though he came comparatively late to civil aviation after the Second World War, Sir Leonard Isitt has in fact directed the destinies i it New Zealand’s national- j ised airlines during the vital', stages of their development.) He has seen them grow 1 from small, ill-equipped but, aspiring ventures into sue-’ cessful businesses that playa useful part in the commercial and social life of New Zealand, and are) poised for exciting expan-! •ion in the next few years, j

Abroad, Sir Leonard Isitt is I probably known better than) his airline: but in his fare-| well address to the New! Zealand division of the! Royal Aeronautical Society! he served notice that! T.E.A.L. will be an inter-1 national force to be reck-[ oned with. It will carry! New Zealand’s flag and New j Zealand's commerce far ’ from our remote islands. In! T.E.A.L. he has helped to i create a potent instrument! to end New Zealand’s sea-| bound isolation. How’ much T.E.A.L. owes; to Sir Leonard Isitt’s tact 1 and diplomacy may never be known; but in his sometimes difficult dealings with successive Governments in Wellington and Canberra he always maintained his composure. .If, for political reasons, he was forced to accept second best at times, he was always ready to i make the best of it. The reason why T.E.A.L. morale! is high may be that Sir! Leonard Isitt shared disap-; pointment with the staff and helped them to wring sue-! cess from it. If so. he did j as much for the airline’s! life and vigour as any chairman could be expected to do.