MAY BE STOPPED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 December 1927, Page 5

MAY BE STOPPED

* TRANS=TASMAN FLIGHT. MACHINE THOUGHT UNSUITABLE PRIME MINISTER DISAPPROVES. •»Y CABLE PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYBIGUI MELBOURNE, Dec. 30. S’.eps are being taken to pre.ent Lieut. Moncrief and Captain Eight’s flight across the Tasman to New Zealand, which was planned to take, p.ate this week-encl. The flight from Melbourne to Sydney as the first leg of the journey was originally intended to take place to-day. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce, stated to-night that he disapproved the flight, os in the opinion of experts the machine was unsuitable. He had been in communication with the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, Prime Minister of New Zealand, who had stated that- the New Zealand Air Board had also expressed the opinion that a more suitable type of machine was desirable. *

Opposition to the flight on the part of the Australian authorities is difficult to understand in view of the assurance given by the Rt. Hon. Stanley Bruce to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. In the full story of the preparations for the flight, published exclusively by “The Hawera Star,” it was stated that prior to completing arrangements, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates was asked to cable the 'Australian Government inquiring whether the prohibition imposed by that Government would apply to New Zealanders who desired to hop-.off from Sydney by aeroplane. After a lapse of ten days from the dispatch of his original cable the following reply was received from the Rt. Hon. Stanley Bruce: —

“'Reference your cablegram 12th inst.: My Government does not prohibit flight of Australian airmen between the 'Commonwealth and New Zealand, but every effort is made to discourage the attempt unless the aircraft is of seaplane, flying-boat, or amphibian type. Every courtesy would be extended to licensed Dominion pilots who are prepared to fly between Australia and New Zealand in aircraft authorised by your Government.” On receipt of this advice the trustees considered they were justified Jn compHeting their * business arrangements. Prior to committing themselves, _ the trustees consulted Major Wilkes. Director of Air Services for New Zealand, who stated that the proposed machine was excellently suited for the flight, and to show his confidence in it he said he would himself be prepared to accompany the aviators if there was room for a passenger.