PLANE RELEASED

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1934, Page 5

PLANE RELEASED

KINGSFORD SMITH

His NEXT FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

(United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright;.

LOS ANGELES, November 8. The. attachment on the plane, Lady Southern Cross, was lifted to-night, following on a conference between Sir C. Kingsford Smith’s attorney and counsel for Mr Catton. Smith admitted that Catton had an agreement to act as the promoter for himself v and Ulm for their 1928 flight, but he declared that Catton had failed completely in his efforts to finance the flight, and that he thus has no claim against him (Smith). Catton charged that lie spent 750 dollars on behalf of Smith, , and he asks an additional thousand dollars for, his services. The issue is expected to come to a speedy trial. Sir C. Kingsford Smith to-day boarded the exploration cruiser, “Velero the Third,’’ which is owned by Captain G. Allan Hancock, a wealthy explorer, who financed Smith’s ' 1928 flight. Smith plans to rest aboard the cruiser for several days. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, speaking Of bis intention to fly hack to Australia via the East of U.S.A. said: ‘T shall fly 17,000 miles to Australia this time. This will he one of the longest flights in tile history of aviation. I would much prefer to make my way home by boat in a leisurely manner, but I think that plans have just about materialised for me to fly from Los Angeles to 'New York, and thence to London, and from ther e to Australia.

AMERICA ACE’S RECORD.

NEW JERSEY, November 8

Captain Eddie Bipkenbacker, flying a big twin-motored . transport plane, landed at the Newark Airport, from Los Angeles, a,t . 8.45 Jp.m. (Eastern Standard time), on Thursday, thereby setting a new trans-continental record of. twelve hours four minutes for trans-port-planes. The old record, held by himself, was 13 hours two minutes.

£560,000 BRITISH SUBSIDIES.,

RUGBY, November 7

Sir Phillip Sassoon, in the Commons, said the amount paid in subsidies including those from the Dominions and the Colonies, in respect to all air services, was £560,000. He was satisfied that the results amply justified the subsidies.