The Hawera Star. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1928. INVITATION TO TASMAN FLIERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 13 September 1928, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1928. INVITATION TO TASMAN FLIERS.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'olook In uawera Manai r., Normauby, Okaiawa, Glthazn. Mangatoki. Kapong-a. Alton, lurleyville Patea. Waverlev, Mo_oia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere. Prase* Road, and Ararata.

The Hawera Borough Council is ten be ■commended upon the promptitude with which it has seized the opportunity to make representations for a visit to this ■district by the Tasman fliers, and it will be the earnest hope 'of the people of South Taranaki that SquadronLeader Kingsford-Smith. and' his companions will too atole to see their way clear to accede to the wish\ expressed in. the resolution forwarded this morning. The willingness of the co-com-manders of the ‘ ‘ Southern Cross” to visit as many parts of the Dominion as possible, and their eagerness to do anything they can toy personal contact with the people to advance the cause of aviation, provide a graceful ackowledgment of the interest which has been displayed here in their flight, besides affording additional proof of the sincerity of tooth men in their declaration that the primary object of their wonderful flights has been, and is, the establishment of an increased public faith in aviation as a means of travel, defence and communication. While it is to toe- regretted that the places to toe visited in this country by the airmen arc not to have Itho experience of seeing them land in the giant monoplane which they have used in opening new aerial highways, the reasons which lie •behind the decision not to take, the “ Southern Cross ” on tour are obvious and ample. The days of big things for this machine are by no means over and its owners are not yet ready to reduce it to the status of a mere side-show. Mighty deeds of endurance still lie before it, and it is only to be expected that the. aviators, who have entered upon this undertaking for a higher purpose than the provision of a spectacular stunt, will jeontinue to toe careful not to expose it to unnecessary depreciation by flying the machine through New Zealand. If /the airmen can find it practicable to break their journey north at Hawera, which has landing and refuelling facilities approved by other pilots of ’planes of the type which will •bo used on their flight to Auckland, the whole of South Taranaki will be gratified by the opportunity thus .presented to assure the visitors of (the appreciation of this section of the people of New Zealand of their efforts in providing the first aerial link between the Dominion and the Commonwealth. If the aviators accept the invitation l extended from Hawera, it may be that they will extend their itinerary to. include other parts of the province, where they would be equally warmly welcomed, buit if for any reason they had to confine their Taranaki visit to this town, there - is not the slightest doubt that Hawera would do everything in its • power to ensure that full facilities were! provided for the transport- and comfort) of the very large number of people ;

from neighbouring parts who would make the journey to be present at am official reception to the airmen who have added fresh laurels to their worldwide fame by their conquest of the Tasman,