ABANDONED TOUR

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 57, 30 November 1934, Page 2

ABANDONED TOUR

Air Race Aviators and Planes AUCKLAND EXPLANATION By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, November 29. An explanation of the abandonment of the tour of the Dominion by the two New Zealand aeroplanes that had recently competed in tile Melbourne centenary ail' race was made by Hr. L, W S\van, secretary to the Auckland Committee of tlie Melbourne Centenary Air Race Committee. Mr. Swan stated that he had beer, sent to Dannevirke by the committee for the purpose of making a report on the results of the combined tour of the Dragon and the Manawatu Miles Hawk, principally as affecting the tinances of the Auckland committee. "Upon returning to Auckland;” he stated, ‘‘a meeting of the committee was held, and as the result of the report it was unanimously decided that no tinaiieial gain was likely to accrue by continuing with the tour as planned. This decision was largely based on the fact that many of the places-to be visited, more particularly in the South Island, do not possess an aerodrome, which our experience has taught us is required for a machine of the nature of the Dragon, which is an air liner i<minlature and carries eight passengers besides the pilot.” In a further explanation .Mr. Swan said that the venture had cost approximately XSOUO, of which sunt it was stilt necessary to recover a lurther £3OO over and s/bove that already obtained. As far as the lour had progressed, it had involved a loss aii'l tile committee had decided to call the tour off. It had been erroneously reported that the tour had been abandoned owing to the damage to the Tainui, which had been flown from Dannevirke to Auckland in very good I time, ami would lie used for passenger I Hights at Mangore during the weekend.

Referring to Hie cancellation of Hie tour insofar ns it affected Hie pilots, Squadron Leader J D. Hewett, who. with Flying Officer (’. E. Kay, flew Hie Tainui in the air race and later across the Tasman Sen. stated (lint there was no question of the aeroplane being damaged. He maintained Hint there was still a considerable interest in the tour—tlie fact that there were two aeroplanes, both of which had taken part in (be great air race, being in itself the prim-ip.-il draw. Flying Oliicer Kay, apnrt from substantiating Hie fact Hint. Hie tour li.ad not been abandoned on account of damage, hud little to say on tlie matter. He had expected tlie tour was to be proceeded with, and was anticipating going south when orders had been received, two days ago, to tty the aeroplane back to Auckland.