Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, JANUARY 16th., 1928. TASMAN TRAGEDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 January 1928, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, JANUARY 16th., 1928. TASMAN TRAGEDY

A PART from those who are guided by blind faith rather than calm reason, there will be few who have not by now surrendered all hope of tracing the missing airmen and their plane. Conjecture and surmise will long be indulged in as to what really happened to Hood and Monericff, and how far they got, on their pioneer flight across the Tasman, but unless the unexpected happens; and .some material evidence is discovered, their adventures and the cause of the final mishap, must be shrouded iii mystery. There have been many conflicting claims in various parts of the Dominion, as to seeing the plane, or hearing its engine, on Tuesday night last, but subsequent investigation failed to substantiate these stories. The claimants, doubt-

less, believed what they stated, but their eagerness, or pre-conception misled them.

Sympathy for the widows' and dependents of the missing airmen will accompany the feeling of admiration that must be felt for Hood and Moncrieff. The story of the efforts to collect the money to meet the necessary expenses, the avoidance of publicity and personal glorification, and the splendid team work to advance national prestige, is such as to develop racial pride, and the pity is the greater that complete success did not reward so splendid an effort. The airmen have sacrificed their all for the nation. What is the nation going to do for their widows and dependents? These aerial exploits should not be regarded as private stunts with little practical benefit -attached, even if successful. Canada shows how high an estimate it places on these pioneer trans-oceanic flights, by naming lakes after some recent victims, although few were Canadians, nor connected with Canada. New Zealand must develop a similar “air-spirit,” and a benefit arising from the concentration of public interest on the Tasman flight, should be a real arousing of the Dominion to the importance of aerial transit, whether for commerce or defence. This country has long lagged behind. No machine was available at Wellington to make immediate search for tlie Tasman fliers, and precious time was lost whilst planes were ordered from Christchurch. Even then, engine defects caused further delay, and even, if Hood and Moncrieff could have been rescued, their chances were jeopardised by the lack of facilities at Wellington.

As in most tragedies of the Tasman character, there is a search for someone to blame. Those planning the flight seem to have done less to ensure due preparation at the end of the journey, than they did for the beginning. Nor was there the fullest co-operation between Government departments and those arranging the details of the flight. The ships that might have helped were miles away in Auckland harbour, the wireless signals to be sent were not explicitly explained to operators in the Dominion, and confusion seems to have prevailed where it was desirable that as little time as possible should be lost. No useful purpose would be served by denouncing the Government, or anybody for that matter. The need is to learn the lesson taught by the tragic events of the first attempt to fly the Tasman, and to make good use of the experience in the next flight. That another effort should be made —and made as early as practicable, —should not be disputed. Apart from any other reason, it is due to Hood and Moncrieff’s memory that the task they so gallantly began, should be completed. The next attempt, however, must be conducted on adequate lines. Lack ot money must not be permitted to add to the dangers of the flight, and the fullest co-opera-tion of the Government must be given.