TASMAN FLIGHTS

Evening Star, Issue 19773, 25 January 1928, Page 5

TASMAN FLIGHTS

CAPTAIN MOODY'S ATTEMPT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITION NO POWER TO PROHIBIT. Press Association—-By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 24. Although the Commonwealth Government has x'efused to aid Captain Moody and. Mr Jolley, the Government has no power to stop the flight. Limited by the constitution, it has only power to deal with interstate and foreign matters connected with flying, and even these regulations are indefinite. Major de Haviland, referring to tho cablegram to Mr Philip Bailey, of Hamilton, said it was his principle not to supply machines which ho thought were not absolutely safe for the work they had to do. What was the good of crossing the Tasman? Anyone knew that an aeroplane could cross the Tasman with a certain amount of luck, but that would not prove anything from an aviation point of view. From the commercial aspect it would be necessary to use a big machine, which would prove costly. [The cable referred, to by Major do Haviland reads: Letter just received. Regret cannot recommend D.H.9 owing to excessive risk of Tasman flight with any single engined machine. Thanks for inquiry. Am writing.] ATTITUDE UNCHANGED. BRISBANE, January 24. The Minister of Defence, referring to tho proposed flight by Captain Moody, said that tho Government’s attitude was unchanged The Government could not sanction the flight unless the conditions considered essential by expert advisers were complied with, and it would not provide any facilities.