NOT WANTED

Evening Star, Issue 22893, 26 February 1938, Page 20

NOT WANTED

NO BUYERS FOR BIG PLANE THE BOEING " WHITE ELEPHANT After lying in the stores of Otago Motors Ltd., Halsey street, for many months, almost forgotten, the Boeing 40 combination mail, passenger, and cargo aeroplane, which made some noteworthy flights over the city about three years ago, obtained a revival of public interest during the week _by the announcement that the machine would be auctioned this morning. The interest, however, was limited to the “ man in the street,” who referred to the matter in idle conversation. It was not a contagious interest, and buyers were quite unaffected. When the time for the sale drew near there were only four prsons clustered about the big blue aeroplane, two from the firm of auctioneers, the man who held the option on the machine, and a ‘ Star ’ reporter. After a few minutes a grey and much bewhiskered rat made an appearance on the rafters overhead, but, deciding the machine was not of much use to him, quickly disappeared. This seemed to be the end of general interest, and after looking hopefully at the reporter as if suggesting a bid might come from that quarter, the auctioneers decided to depart, regretfully, and once again the Boeing was left to muse upon its remarkably ineffective existence.

The machine was one of two privately imported into Dunedin three years ago. The intention was to inaugurate an extensive passenger service, but the machines were single-engined,' and the Government would not issue a certificate permitting' the machines to carry passengers over Cook Strait, though they could be used for freight-carrying purposes. So the idea was virtually stillborn. So far 'as could be ascertained this morning, the other machine was disposed of to New Guinea Airways, and some hope was expressed that perhaps this unwanted aeroplane might also be sold there. Whatever ultimately happens to the machine in the meantime it lies in a Dunedin store. It is new, and was landed into the Dominion at a cost of £9,000. It could be purchased at much less money to-day, but the question is: Where is the purchaser to be found?