AIRMEN HONOURED

Evening Star, Issue 21879, 16 November 1934, Page 17

AIRMEN HONOURED

NEW ZEALANDERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS [Per United Press Association.] HASTINGS, November 13. You are all, in ray opinion, years coo late. 1 knew that Squadron-leader M'Gregor was one of the finest pilots in tho world years ago,” said Wingcommander Grant-Da Ron, ex-Director of the Air Services in New Zealand, in a speech of welcome at the Hastings aerodrome to-day to Squadron-leader M‘Gregor, Mr H. C.'Walker, Squadronleader Hewett, Flight-lieutenant Kay, and Mr S. G. White, the young Havelock North airman who landed here on Tuesday after a leisurely, flight from England to Sydney. Continuing, Wing-commander GrantDalton said: “What Squadron-leader M‘Gregor did was very fine, but it was no finer than what he did in the war, nor than he can do at any time. As he is a New Zealander you don’t realise it. If he had belonged to some other country you would realise it, but now you think ho is just an ordinary person.” Praise for Messrs White, Hewett and Kay was also expressed ’ by' the same speaker who in reference to Messrs Hewett and Kay said their feat was only the .beginning of 'a regular .inservice linking up this country with the rest of the world. Other speakers who welcomed the flyers were Mr 0. A. Maddisou (Mayor of Hastings) and Air A. K. Jull, member for Waipawa. Mr .lull said: “ Eventually this country will have to lake to the air whether it likes it or not.” As to Government assistance it was very desirable that there should be eo-operation between the Covernmut and the local authorities to ensure the laying-out ami maintenance of the best available aerodromes. All possible help should be given to the infant industry of air transport. After advising Hawke’s Bay to try to obtain proper recognition, Air Jull said in reference to the performances of tho visiting pilots: “It seems as though this is only the beginning of a series of similar enterprises by which the Antipodes will be linked up with the rest of the world and in which journeys which once took mouths will be performed in as many days.”