ADVERTISING CLUB’S GUESTS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 50, 22 November 1928, Page 6

ADVERTISING CLUB’S GUESTS

A TALK ON AVIATION Three members of Commander Byrd’s Antarctic Expedition were the guests of honour at the monthly luncheon of the Wellington Advertising Club, at which there was a representative attendance of members. The president, Mr. A. H. Messenger (Government Publicity Officer), welcomed the guests, Captain Alton N. Parker, U.S. Marine Corps, aviation pilot; Dlr. Russell Owen, staff correspondent of the “New York Times,” and Mr. Willard Van der Veer, movie expert of the Paramount Corporation.

An interesting tiddress on the aviation equipment of the expedition was given by Captain Parker, who briefly described the four aeroplanes, tbe largest of which, the Ford monoplane, has three engines, totalling nearly 1000 horse-power.- Captain Parker explained the work of the ’planes in exploring the unknown region eastward of a line between the Bay of Whales and the South Pole. Specially-design-ed skis had been constructed to enable the ’planes to take off and land on snow and ice surfaces. In this connection, he said, the expedition had been very greatly assisted by Lieutenant Bernt Balchen, who was not only a great aviation pilot, but also an expert in ski travelling. Captain Parker expressed the hope that commercial aviation would soon be taken up in earnest in New Zealand. It had made great strides in the United States, where 38 air lines were regularly engaged in the transport of mails, express goods and passengers. Plans had been made to connect up the air lines and the railroads, so that it would be possible to traverse the continent in 48 hours, by flying in daylight and train travelling at night. There were already 3400 pilots engaged In commercial flying in the United States. The flying schools were rushed by applicants, and most of them had long waiting lists. Captain Parker concluded by expressing his appreciation of the great hospitality and kindness shown the members of the expedition in New Zealand, where they had been made to feel like brothers, rather than cousins.