LONDON-N.Z. FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 6 November 1936, Page 5

LONDON-N.Z. FLIGHT

DARWIN REACHED

.. A / HEALTH REGULATIONS DISPUTE!

(Australian Press Association).

DARWIN, November 5.

... The New Zealand “flying fanner,’* Mr Erhle Clark,; unexpectedly arrived at the Darwin aerodrome at 11 a.iu., (local time);' after : a ,30-days’ flight, from London. A . Mr Clark declined to be vaccinated by the local quarantine officer-, and his application , for,, a dispensation has been telegraphed to Canberra for consideration. He is auxious to leave Darwin for the south ah early as possible.; Mr Clark also announced his intention. of flying the Tasman from Sydney to New Zealand as soon as the weather permitted. Mr Clark ■ said - the reason: why he desired exemption from vaccination was that he did not want to be ill crossing the Tasman, probably within a week. . -v

Relating bis experiences, he said he did all ‘the flying he could in daylight, but had an unenviable experience between Singapore and Palembang. The sun set an hour earlier than he was led to believe, and when night fell he got lost. He continued >along, the coast for hours. ,When he located the lights of Paleipbang he cruised overhead. Residents apparently heard t'e droning of the machine, r and cars gathered, ou the golf links, • formed a square, and turned their headlights on to a fairway, enabling him eventually to landsafely., He crossed the Timor Sea. •in less than five hours.' A Canberra message says that Dr-: Earle Pago, Minister;; for Commerce,stated in the House qf .Representatives this afternoon that the Common-. wealth Government hhd no .option but •to insist on Mr - Clark’s vaccination against smallpox, since he had touched several Eastern citiesAand villages. The Government was taking theA utmost precautions since the development of overseas aviation. Mt] Clark’s Alternative. tfasl’toi in 'tine for the statutory period ,at. Dar- . ■' • .' ••. ‘V win. , v • - 1 CLARKE DUE SYDNEY TO-M OR ROW »>••• (Received this day at 12 nbon).: : . November 5. . Upon Clarke refusing to ; Vawin-• a ted, his .machine was; placed in (quarantine but la’ter v .,he. received exemption ihg,' arriving '■ in' -Sydney ~ou Satiiyday . afternoon. A ‘'

He says ho.is anxious’ to return’to his home in No^h'Canterbury in time ' for shearing. v : - Before he began His flight from Lympne, iie had less than one hundred hours’ flying expedience, and. only five hours in his second-hand ,'machine, in . which he flew to Australia. . RELEASED FROM QUARANTINE,' :. : > (Received this day at, 12 noon). CANBERRA, November,6. Clarke, who arrived unexpectedly . yesterday at Darwin, is to be released ■ from quarantine there. Instructions to this effect have been given by Mr W. Hughes, Minister of Health, ' it has been ascertained that Clarke was ;vae- . einated on ,a previous occasion. ' •.