ACROSS THE TASMAN

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 31 December 1927, Page 7

ACROSS THE TASMAN

LATE EDITION

FLIGHT NOT APPROVED. FEDERAL MINISTRY’S VIEW. MACHINE NOT SUITABLE. BY CABLE- PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received 1 p.m. to-day. MELBOURNE, Lee. 31. Mr Bruce states that he has communicated with Captain Kight advising him that the Federal Ministry does not approve of the proposed flight to New Zealand and requesting that no further attempt be made to carry it out. Mr Bruce said that when Captain Jvight presented the letter of introduction from the .Hon. J. G. Coates he was under the impression that the New Zealand Ministry approved of the flight and was asking the Commonwealth Ministry to facilitate it. In those circumstances he felt that courtesy to the Government of a sister Dominion demanded that the Australian Ministry, even if it did not approve of the flight, should place no obstacle in way of its being attempted.

He has accordingly given instructions to the aviation authorities to give any assistance possible in assembling the machine. At the same time he has cabled the New Zealand Government setting out the vieivs of the Commonwealth Ministry and conveying advice which had been received from aviation experts as to the undesirability of an attempt being made with the type of machine proposed. To that message Mr Coates replied that the New Zealand Government had made it clear it did not approve of the type of machine "selected. Those attempting the flight were doing so at their own risk. Mr Coates added that the Air Board advised that a more suit, able type of machine should be used.

AMPHIBIAN TYPE SUGGESTED.

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DANNEVIHKE, Dec. 31

Mr A. McNicoi, trustee of the Tasman flight fund, states that he has received, through the courtesy of Mr Coates, a cabled memo from Mr Bruce, in which the latter stated that the Australian experts recommended, after exhaustive inquiry, that the flight should not be attempted save in a living boat or machine of the amphibian . 00. Mr Bruce states that Iris Government will take no steps toprob’.bit the flight authorised by the New Zealand Government. Mr McNieol says that the proposed fl ght ig not authorised by the New Zealand Government, but the first step taken by the trustees was to have the assurance of the authorities here that the machine afforded a sufficient margin of safety. The backers fully appreciated the motives of the Australian Government, and had no desire to recklessly risk the lives ®f the aviators.

The Srst step taken by the trustees before ordering the machine was to receive an assurance from the N.Z. Directors of Air Services that lift was thoroughly capable of the flight. The trustees further delayed ordering the machine until a cable was received on September 22 from Mr Bruce, through the New Zealand Government, stating that the Australian Government did not prohibit flights by aeroplane, although not favouring them, and would render every assistance to pilots approved by the New Zealand Government with an authorised machine. Tiie airmen left this country equipped with all. the necessary papers regarding themselves and' the machine to satisfy the Australian authorities. The Australian Government generously agreed to permit the aeroplane in free of duty providing it was out of the country in six months. Mr McNicoi states that the position that has now arisen throws the aviators on their own resources, and this is unfair to them, in view of the assurances formerly given. Mr McNicoi has_ received a cable from Lieut. Moncrieff that the test flight was satisfactory, and that he is leaving with Captain Hood for Sydney on Sunday or Monday.