BOTH CONVICTED

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1934, Page 5

BOTH CONVICTED

RECENT TASMAN FLIERS

ORDERED TO PAY COSTS

(Per Press Association, Copyright)

AUCKLAND, December 8.

Raymond Galbraith Whitehead and Ernest Rex Nicholl, who flew the Tasman Sea on November 22, appeared in the. Police Court to-day charged with making a flight from Houhora to Auckland the next day with an unregistered plauee, without a of air-, worthiness, and' without carrying tho pVescribed documents. They pleaded ‘guilty. 7 • ,7 ■ A-.' Inspector Edward said the possible penalty was £2OO or six months.

The president of the Auckland Aero Club (Mr Spencer Mason) for defen-. dants said, the machine had been certified airworthy but the certificate was cancelled. because an extra tank was installed. -< • • -

The Magistrate said 'this was the first time-the Air Navigation Act had been invoked in any New.; Zealand', court. It Avas difficult to -know what else defendants could have done when they, landed at Houhara. They had to. get to Auckland find could not walk.-

He thought justice would he se yed if he convicted them’and ordered them to pay costs on one charge. The. other - two charges would be withdrawn. - )

“Of course,” he added- “I want to/bo understood that itkdoes not. foi-i l low that, if others do the same thing, they will get off so lightly.” ; Inspector Edw'ards said the object of the prosecution was to draw attention to the Air Navigation A,ct. The Magistrate: -It* wks \fo'iunate '"3 these nien git here safely. If they had not then half the community might ' have been out "searching for weeks.