WHY THEY FLEW

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 12

WHY THEY FLEW

LINKING DOMINIONS A CIVIC RECEPTION (By Telegraph,—Press Association.) CHRISTCHUECH, This Day. Captain Kingsford Smith and the other members of the crew of the Southern Cross were officially welcomed to Christchurch by a huge crowd in Cranmcr square at noon. The Mayor, the Bey. J. K. Archer, spoko on behalf of the city, and Sir Heaton Bhodes on behalf of tho Government. Later the flyers were entertained at a civic luncheon. Replying to the civic reception, Captain Kingsford Smith said that it was to bo regretted that they could not have gone around the aerodrome yesterday, but on landing they were swept along in a wave of New Zealand humanity, and finally found themselves at the hotel. He thanked the Government for the wonderful gift. "We did not fly across to New Zealand for the sake of 2000 quid, but to link up two hitherto unlinked outposts of the Empire." He referred to the deaths of Moncrieff and Hood, stating that the present flight was.not an "I told you so" gesture to those men, but was made in justification of a brave adventure. The flight was a united effort by four men, each indispensable to the others, and it proved that co-operation amongst the crew was essential. He paid a triljute to the ability of Mr. Ulm, whose organising had pulled .them through in the dark days in America. Mr. Litchfiold, the navigator, had hit the coast within approximately a mile from where he intended. It was unfortunate for Mr. M'Williams, tho wireless operator, that they had

struck the worst time ever experienced in the Southern Cross, but it was a tremendous tribute to him that he lay on his back while tho maohino was being tossed about, and got the wireless working so that ho could receive something. Mr. Ulm said that they hoped tho flights were achieving their object, namely, to give the public more confidence in flying. Ho believed the flights wore tho forerunners of properly organised air mail services. Special machines wero needed, but Australia and Now Zealand had tho money and the men to run those services. He thanked the New Zealand Air Force officers for ih© help given. Mr. Litchfield said that some thanks wero du\ to the staff of the Richmond Aerodrome (New South Wales), and to I the Lands and Survey Department, who had sent somo very valuable maps of New Zealand. Mr. M'Williams said that as radio operator ho had hoped to carry out his duties in a manner which would reflect credit on the Dominion, but the elements were against them.