DASH TO ENGLAND

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 287, 1 November 1934, Page 7

DASH TO ENGLAND

JONES AND WALLER. NOW AT ATHENS. ENGINE TROUBLE REMEDIED. (United Press Association.- —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 1, 12.50 p.m. ATHENS, Oct. 31.

Cathcart Jones and Waller, the airmen, who are seeking to break the record on their return flight from Australia to England, arrived here at 3.26 p.m., and are remaining the night.

The airmen landed owing to reports of bad weather in Italy. The flight is proving to be a trying ordeal. r lhey have covered 10,000 miles atan average speed of 182 miles an hour. Waller and Jones arrived at Baghdad from Karachi at 4.7 a.m., wich mean time, and left at 4.55 a.m. They had reached Karachi the previous day and come on again after being delayed by engine trouble..

THE CENTENARY RACE. MELROSE ARRIVES.

THE YOUNGEST FLIER.

MELBOURNE, Oct. 31

C. J. Melrose, aged 20, the youngest competitor in the air race, and the only one flying alone, arrived at Melbourne to-day, finishing seventh. His mother was the first to greet him, and he was then carried shoulder-high over the aerodrome by mechanics. SquadronLeader M. C. McGregor, New Zealand, was among those who welcomed Mr Melrose.

HOMAGE FROM MELBOURNE

TO VISITING AIRMEN

MELBOURNE. Oct. 31

Huge crowds surged about the streets to-day when all visiting airmen received the homage of the public of Melbourne when they were driven in triumphal procession through the city. Leaving Menzies’s Hotel, the procession took 45 minutes to reach Parliament House.

So great was the press of the crowd that the police were helpless to control the surging enthusiasts. Women struggled with policemen, _ trying to shake hands with the fliers. People clung to the cars, and some women actually attempted to kiss Mr Melrose. Flowers were thrown into the cars. The scene was one of the most extraordinary demonstrations over witnessed here.

After the procession the fliers were the guests of the State Parliament at luncheon. The Premier (Sir Stanley Argyle) said: “You have annihilated time and distance and defeated the powers of Nature in a way never dreamed of till now.”

With brief replies, characteristic of men of action, not of words, the fliers each thanked the people of Australia for their reception everywhere. Squad-ron-Leader McGregor’s reply was briefest of all.

TRANSTASMAN RACE. NOT TAKING PLACE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 31. The air race across the Tasman with leading Centenary Air Race pilots taking part cannot be arranged, according to a cable message received by the secretary of the Canterbury Aero Club from Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., now in Melbourne. Mr Sullivan adds, however, that Scott and Black will be pleased to visit all important centres with the winning aeroplane. A guarantee of £SOOO or £6OOO will be required. The latter suggestion will be considered at a public meeting here tomorrow night.

PROPOSAL TO CLUBS. A SUBSIDISED TOUR. Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Oct. 31. Mr G. M. Spence, the president of the New Zealand Aero Club, interviewed regarding the proposal for a transtasman air race, stated that he had communicated by telegraph with all the constituent clubs as to their attitude regarding the suggested visit to New Zealand of competitors ill the Centenary Air Race, with their machines. Inquiries had been made from him as to whether the aero clubs would guarantee £SOOO towards tho estimated cost of a transtasnian race. He had made it clear that the clubs were financially unable to do this and in any event would be opposed to the visit taking the form of a. race on the groflnds of safety. He had suggested that in lieu of the race the competitors might be invited to make a subsidised demonstration flight to New Zealand and later to tour the Dominion, the subsidy to be defrayed by the gates at each centre visited, supplemented by a sufficient sum to be raised by an art union, for which a permit would be required. Any unexpended balance would be devoted to such object as the Government might see fit. This proposal was sent to all aeno clubs last night and the replies received are almost unanimously in favour of Mr Spence’s proposals, only two clubs offering counter-suggestions. The clubs generally have indicated their enthusiasm for the suggested visit. Owing to their straitened financial resources the clubs cannot enter into a joint guarantee for the large sum required, but in nearly every case have indicated their willingness to do their utmost to make the visit, if it eventuates, financially successful in order to reimburse tho necessary subsidy.

HEAVY COSTS

OUTLAY AT LEAST £250,000.

Never has so much money been spent on an international sporting event as on the Centenary Air Race, the cost of tho machines and competitors’ expenses representing at least £250,000.

The Douglas and Boeing aeroplanes are worth £30,000 each, as was the Irish Swoop. Scott’s and Cath-cart-Jones’s Comets cost £IO,OOO apiece—-£SOOO for the machine, and the remainder for insurance, fuel, and other expenses. The Mo'lisons sank £7OOO in the venture, including £SOOO for their machine. ( The shipment of each American machine to England cost £2OO. Insurance ranged from £l2O to £I2OO. The passengers aboard the Douglas paid £SOO in fares.