NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 148, 20 March 1934, Page 8

NOTES OF THE DAY

. l n' F ’ N ?! s ? n ’ s .objection on arrival at Lyttelton to being taken to Paparua Prison m a “Black Maria” was not unreasonable, hi! r S a - p .° Itlc t pris °! ier ’ 'J ot a felon. Further, his appeal against sJems h IOn 1?“ Stl to , b ; heard ’ In these circumstances there seems to have been no need for refusing his request for a taxi. The police van is ordinarily understood to be a means- of ensuring that L2°” erS T iay be collveyed froln the court t 0 the P ris on without escaping from custody. Mr. Nelson’s offending was grave enotwh m a political sense, but he could not be described as a desperate ti life or'nr° Se at ' he Co,,inil > nit X would be a menace io or piopeity. From that point of view the police authorities Bllck Maria 806 '” "' ldll!y P '’ CC ' Se bimdlill g him into the

It is satisfactory to know that the practice of “checking in” by airmen who have crossed Cook Strait has not been abandoned, as was suggested in a message from Blenheim yesterday. Flying in hilly country has proved to be much more dangerous in New Zealand than flying between the two Islands; but whereas hills can sometimes be avoided by a change of route, the water crossing is unavoidable. It is as well, therefore, that everything possible should be done to keep a tally of aircraft making it, so that, in the rare event of mishap, help may not be long delayed. Could not something equally valuable be done to avoid delay in succouring the victims of land accidents? If all aeroplanes were fitted with small short-range wireless transmitting sets, battery operated, an injured pilot (supposing his installation to be intact) could summon at once the help that now may take hours to reach him.