TASMAN FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 98, 24 January 1928, Page 8

TASMAN FLIGHT

MOODY’S PLANS CONDEMNED BREACH OF REGULATIONS GOVERNMENT DISCOURAGES SUCH ADVENTURES Telbgbaph.—Pbess association. Copyright (Rec. January 23, 10.50 p.m.) Sydney, January 23. Mr. Pratten, Minister of Customs, states that although permission to make the proposed flight to New Zealand does not rest with his department, he thinks there is a good deal of “stunting” connected with such hare-brained flight proposals, and it is unlikely, in view of the many tragedies that have occurred during the past twelve months, that the Government will be a party to giving encouragement to further adventures of that kind. Melbourne, January 23. Both the Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, and the Attorney-General, Mr. Latham, have stated that Captain Moody’s proposed trahs-Tasman flight will be a breach of the regulations, and the Government has the power to prevent it. Captain Moody will not be able to see Mr. Bruce, as he will be absent from his office all the week, and any request for an exemption from the regulations cannot be dealt with for some time because Cabinet will not meet again till the middle of February. MONCRIEFF AND HOOD • SUGGESTED CRASH ON FLINDERS ISLAND (Rec. January 23, 10.50 p.m.) Hobart, January 23. The possibility that Moncrieff and Hood so far deviated from their course as to crash on Flinders Island is suggested in a belated report received by the Commissioner of Police from the police officer in charge of Flinders Island, a sparsely populated island off the north-west corner of Tasmania, extending about .forty-five miles in a north-south direction. The report states that information had been received that the hum of an aeroplane engine was heard on January 10, and later a distinct crash was heard in the direction of the midlands. A search party has, been scouring the country without success.

NOT CONSIDERED PROBABLE (Rec. 23, 10.50 p.m.) Melbourne, January 23. Major Coleman, secretary of the Air Board, states that it is inconceivable that the aviators could have got so far out of their course. No Air Force machines were in the 'vicinity of Flinders Island on the date mentioned. TRAMPERS RETURN NO TRACE OF AIRMEN The secretary of the Post and Telegrap Department has received the fol-

lowing message from the postmaster at Featherston: —“The searchers, Abbott and Houghton, returned on Sunday, and state that they saw no trace of the missing airmen.” GISBORNE FUND OPENED. BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. Gisborne, January 23. The Mayor of Gisborne has opened a relief fund in connection with the Tasman flight.

A pigeon is one of the most regular attenders at the Rumanian Band concerts in the arcade at the North Pier, Blackpool. Three times a day, promptly at the time for starting, it appears and perches high above the stage. It seems to enjoy classical music; most fox-trots make it ruffle its feathers. More cigarettes are being smoked in Britain than ever before. For every one smoked 20 years ago, four or five are smoked now.