CENTAURUS RECEPTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1937, Page 7

CENTAURUS RECEPTION

MR. SAVAGE’S SPEECH

COMMANDER’S REPLY

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, December 28. “During the last two days, we have had the privilege of entertaining in our own modest fashion, some of the men of the age,” said .the Prime Minister (Mr. Savage) in proposing the health of Captain Burgess and the crew of the Centaurus, at the Government dinner tendered to them this evening. Captain Musick, and members of the crew of the Pan-American olinner were also present, and the quests included Major A. F. Purvis, representing the Governor General, Ministers of the Crown, members of Parliament, heads of the services, and representatives of the civic and commercial interests. , x The Prime Minister referred to the development of commercial aviation as one of the wonders of modern civilisation, but stated that governments in all parts of the world had a duty to develop the gifts of science and mechanical invention, in the interests of the people, and not as instruments of destruction. The presence on the Waitemata of the Centaurus and the Samoan Clipper showed how the great American nation and the British Commonwealth of Nations could co-operate in harnessing progress in aviation to the cause of international commercial relationships and friendship. “Airmen like Captain Burgess and his crew are playing a great part in the development of civilisation,” Mr. Savage said, “and it is up to the representatives of the people to see that proper use is made of the advantages which they place at our disposal. . I can assure you that New Zealand will not lag behind in this respect.” Captain Burgess expressed gratitude, on behalf of the crew and himself, for the warmth of the welcome extended to them. Theirs was purely a goodwill flight, he said, but although he could not speak for the policy of the Company, he personally hoped that before long, much larger flying boats would be coming to New Zealand via Australia, and returning to England via Canada, so that we will have the whole Empire linked by air. “To me, this homecoming has been the experience of a lifetime.” He added that Great Britain was making amazing progress in the field of commercial aviation. There was proof that she led the world in the construction of flying boats. Her military aircraft were unparalleled, and he was sure it would not be long before her land aeroplanes for commercial purposes were developed to the same high standard.

GOVRS.’-GENERAL MESSAGES

AUCKLAND, December 28.

The following letter has been received by the Governor-General (Lprd Galway) from, the Governor-General of Australia (Lord Gowrie): — My Dear Governor-General, —It is a great pleasure to me to forward by the Empire flying-boat Centaurus to your Excellency a message of goodwill and affection from the people of this Commonwealth to those of our sister Dominion, New Zealand. Although the forthepming flight of the Centaurus may ,be regarded in the nature of a survey flight, its objective is to bring nearer to hand the inauguration of an Empire flying-boat service between our two great Dominions. I trust the New Year and each year which follows may bring to your Excellency’s Dominion and to the Commonwealth happiness, prosperity, and peace. Yours sincerely, (Signed) Gowrie. His Excellency has replied as follows: —

My Dear Governor-General,—lt was most gratifying to me, as GovernorGeneral of New Zealand, to . receive your message of goodwill and affection from the people of the Commonwealth on the occasion of the flight of the Centaurus from the Mother Country to New Zealand, via Australia. I can assure you that the landing of the Centaurus in Auckland harbour yesterday was ample proof to all who saw it that the Empire flying-boat service between England, Australia, and New Zealand is to all intents and purposes an accomplished fact. I most cordially reciprocate your good wishes for the New Year. It will be my pleasure at all times to co-operate with your Excellency for the good of His Majesty’s service in these portions of his Dominions. Yours sincerely, (Signed) Galway. The following letter from .the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr. Lyons) to the Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr. Savage) was brought to Auckland by the Centaurus: — “My Dear Mr. Savage,—lt is with very great pleasure that I am availing myself of the opportunity given by the flight of the Empire flying-boat Centaurus to send through you greetings from the people of Australia to the people of New Zealand. This flight will bring our two countries even closer together than they have been in the past, and since it is the first practical step toward the establishment of a regular flying service across the Tasman, it marks an epoch in the relations between the two countries. —I am, yours sincerely, J. A. Lyons.”

NOTABLE PASSENGERS.

AUCKLAND, December 29

When the Centaurus leaves Auckland nt seven o’clock on Friday morning for the southern cruise, she will carry Mr. Fraser, Mr. Webb, Group Captain Wilkes, Mr. E. 11. R. Green (Public Works Department), Squadron Leader Gibson, the aerodrome engineer of the Public Works Department, Commander B. A. Blythe, L. Mangham, A, A. Hardcastle, and L. L. White.

Captain Burgess regrets that it is not possible to pass over Hamilton on the'outward flight, but when returning on January 5 he intends flying over the Waikato and Hamilton, late in thej afternoon, the Centaurus being due at Auckland at 6 o’clock. When the Centaurus leaves Wellington on Monday for Lyttelton, the probable passengers will include Mr. Nash, Mr. Semple and Mr. Jones. Other Ministers of the Crown have been invited Io make the trip over some portion of I Io? lour. THE CLIPPER DELAYED UNFAVOURABLE WEATHER I AUCKLAND. December 28. . A postponement of 24 hours in the I departure for Pago Pago of the PanI American Airways’ Samoan Clipper

! with the first air mail to be carried I across the South Pacific, was announced by Mr. Harold Gatty, special representative of the company m New Zealand at 10 o’clock to-night. The an nouncement followed immediately upon an unfavourable weather forecast being made by Mr E. B Buxton, the company’s meteorologist m Audi “The forecast, is for bad weather, Mr. Gatty said. “It indicates strong head winds between, here and Pago Pago, and unfavourable conditions on the first section of the route. The clipper will moor at her buoy for the All preparations for a departure at 4 o’clock in the morning were complete when the postponement was ani nounced. The clipper had been refuelled with 2000 gallons of petrol, and engineers had checked over the whole ship ready for the flight. The night-landing floats to be set out over a mile-long path to indicate the runway to Captain Musick had been checked and were in position behind a fast launch, ready for towing into place and anchoring. Detailed arrangements had been made by Mr. A. L. Lewis, airport manager, for handling the mail and stowing it aboard the clipper. A large consignment was due to reach the base at midnight to be locked in a special compartment on i the clipper; but the plans were altered as soon, as the change in schedule had been announced, and the mail was held at the Chief Post Office.

HEAVY MAIL.

AUCKLAND, December 29

As the result of the delayed departure, the Samoan clipper is expected to carry over 18,000 letters when she leaves early to-morrow morning. There were 15,000 in hand last night, and the total was swelled to-day by the addition of a further mail from various parts of the province and the south. . Th© Auckland postal officials experienced a steady rush to-day, and it is apparent that many people, including business firms, wish to profit by the delayed flight. Air mails from various parts of the Domin’on are bringing further letters to connect with the clipper.

N.Z. RUG FOR PRESIDENT

MR. SAVAGE’S LETTER

AUCKLAND, December 28. As a gesture of friendship from New Zealand to the United States of America, a letter of greeting, accompanied by the gift of a New Zealand travelling rug, is being sent by the Prime Minister (Mr. Savage) to the President of the United States (Mr. Franklin Roosevelt) through the medium of the first trans-Pacific air mail, which will be carried from Auckland by the PanAmerican Airways Samoan Clippei.. In his recent public utterances in Auckland, the Prime Minister has stressed the significance of having on the waters of the Waitemata, at one time, flying boats of both the Imperial Airways and the Pan-American Airways. He has made it clear'that New Zealand values highly the air link with the United States, and this sentiment is fully expressed in his message to President Roosevelt; the text of which is as follows: “My dear President: By this first direct air mail from New Zealand to the United States of America, being carried by PanAmerican Airways’ Samoan Clipper, I have pleasure in sending to you my personal greetings. I welcome the establishment by this air service, of more rapid communication across the Pacific, as a further means of bringing the great American people and the people of this country into closer relationship, and strengthening the ties of friendship and goodwill, which rightly and happily exist between them. May I ask you to accept as a memento of this occasion a rug of New 1 Zealand manufacture which accompanies this letter, and also my good wishes for a bright and prosperous New Year? Yours sincerely, M. J. Savage.” Arrangements for .the despatch of the letter and the travelling rug were made, to-night, and on arrival in San Francisco, they will be speedily forwarded to Washington for delivery to the President.

TASMAN SERVICE.

(Recd. Dec. 29, 1 p.m.). CANBERRA, December 29.

Mr. Lyons stated that Mr. White would report to the Cabinet, regarding his discussion with the New Zealand Government on the Tasman air service. It might enable the Federal Government to eliminate the last of the difficulties, and to reach an agreement with Britain and New Zealand fox- the opening of the service. He expected that the Tasman service would begin almost simultaneously with the inauguration of the flying-boat service from London.

Mr. Lyons said: “The flight of the Centaurus has demonstrated how much the Tasman air route will do to unite Australia and New Zealand. The crossing by the Centaurus brought New Zealand hours closer to Australia by air, than Tasmania is from the mainland by fast steamer.”

WELLINGTON, December 29

Referring to cabled messages from Canberra regarding the starting of the air service across the Tasman, Mr. Nash, who has been discussing the matter with the Australian Minister of Trade and Customs, Mr. White, stated to-day that discusisons between Mr. White and himself did look hopeful, in that the proposed scheme for an ininauguration of the service appeared to be compdltely practicable. It would have to wait, however, until some representations had been made to the United Kingdom Government on modifications it was proposed to make in the original scheme. The New Zealand Government was in communication. with the United Kingdom Government in regard to this, and as soon as finality was reached, a ful statement would be made. ITALIAN VENTURE. (Received December 29, 2 p.m.) CADIZ, December 28. An Italian, Mario Stoppani, left for ! Buenos Aires, in an attempt to beat the Soviet distance record. ITALIAN INADVERTENCE.

(Received December 29, noon.) NEW DELHI, December 28

Signor Lualdi, editor of the Italian newspaper “Stampa," with three companions, who are visiting India by air, were asked on their arrival at Lahore to proceed to Delhi, to explain their low flying over military cantonments at Karachi.

Signor Lualdi, at Delhi, pleaded inadvertence. The authorities accepted the explanation, and the incident was close.