AIR LINER OVERDUE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1937, Page 7

AIR LINER OVERDUE

AUSTRALIAN ANXIETY «,, SIX PEOPLE ON BOARD [BY CABLE —PBEPB ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] (Recd. February . 20, 8 a.m.) BRISBANE, February 19. Grave fears are entertained for the safety of the Stinson airliner, on the Brisbane-Sydney service, which left Archerfield at 1 p.m. to-day, and has' not since reported. Six are aboard, consisting of four passengers, Messrs Graham, Fountain, Barnett and Westray, and two pilots, Shepherd and Boyd. FORCED LANDING? SYDNEY, February 19. It is believed here that the Stinson airliner has made a forced landing along the New South Whies coast, out of reach of communications. The usual practice of these machines is to hug the coast, en route Sydney. A report comes from Nambucca tonight, that the Stinson was heard over that mid-coast town at 2.55 p.m., but it is possible it may have been a sister to the Stinson, en route to Brisbane, which leaves Sydney at 1 p.m. daily. •EMPIRE BOAT’S SUCCESS LONDON, February 18. The. Imperial Airways flying-boat' Cakeonia, at an average speed of 170 miles an hour, flew non-stop from Southampton to Alexandria, a journey several hundred miles longer than the Atlantic crossing. The flight took 13 hours 35 minutes. Tim aviation expert of the “Daily Telegraph” says: “The flight was not a test of tlie Caledonia’s range, which is far greater. It was one of a series of tests in which various navigation wireless tests are being carried out. It is intended to make several more before attempting to cross the North Atlantic in one hop. PACIFIC SERVICE. N.Z. CALL OMITTED? SYDNEY, February 19. The “Sun” says“Pan-American Airways is considering diverting its proposed Pacific rou' to pass through New Caledoinci to Australia, instead of through New Zealand. In well-informed circles in Sydney it is also believed that Colonel Lindbergh, technical adviser to the company, may come to Australia, and will possibly visit New Zealand and New Caledonia. “Favourable consideration, has been given to the alternative route, as the trip to Australia would bo shorter through New Caledonia. It is understood that tentative approaches have been made to the French Government, which owns New Caledonia.”

MR GATTY’S DENIAL. WELLINGTON, February 19. A denial that there was any foun-” dation .for the assertion in a Sydney message that the Pan-American. Airways Company is considering omitting New Zealand from its proposed Pacific air route, was given by Mr Harold Gatty, representative of the company, in an interview in Wellington to-night. He declared that the Sydney “Sun” was getting hold of a great deal of ridiculous information. The plans of Pan-American Airways had. always been for the inclusion of New Zealand, he .said. The Tasman Sea was something which both Australia, and New Zealand were interested. in, and the company had no wish to interfere with that. The provision of a call nt Auckland would help to, preserve that interest. “We have never had. any other intention but to come to New Zealand, and are content to lay our plans on that line,” said Mr Gatty. “There is no possibility of a change in our plans.” Mr Gatty also denied that Colonel Lindbergh might visit this part of the world. AUCKLAND DEMAND. AUCKLAND, February 19. The support of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce for the views expressed by Mr M. G. C. McCaul, of Wellington, president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, about the continued delays in the negotiations for the proposed Pacific air service was expressed by Mr A. A. Ross, president of the Auckland Chamber. “The Auckland Chamber gives its full support to the attitude taken up by Mr McCaul,” Mr Ross said, in a statement made for the chamber. “We have an opportunity of becoming an important station on one of the world’s main air routes, but if the negotiations are bungled we may find ourselves relegated to the dead-end on a branch line. We really ought to wake up and 1 would suggest that the question is important enough for the Mayor to call an immediate conference of Mayors and Chairmen in the metropolitan area, together with representatives of other bodies, and endeavour to influence the Government, so that without further delay the matter may be brought to a successful conclusion.”