"A RISKY PROJECT"

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 18 January 1928, Page 5

"A RISKY PROJECT"

SYDNEY HERALD'S , CRITICISM (By Telegraph-Special to "The Mail") AUCKLAND, 17th Jan Some particulars of the history of the undertaken by Lieutenant Moncrieff and Capta n Hood are ™ bv a special representative of the Sydney Morning Herald" who saw the two airmen leave Richmond for New Zealand last Tuesday morning. In his article, which hears the headline "A Risky project and winch was nublished last Wednesday mormng, the Say following the flight, the writer says:

"The project of a flight from Australia to New Zealand as conceived originally by Lieutenant Moncrieti' was a sane, laudable undertaking, and one that, would have been unconditionally commended by experienced airmen in any country. The flight as. actually conducted* was a breach of the air navigation regulations which.were specially drawn up by an international convention for the purpose of protecting young aviators against the daring and impetuosity of their,own desires and ambitions. These regulations 'Setup in definite terms that in any flight over an expanse of water greater than 500 miles from shore to shore the aviators must use seaplanes, amphibians', or flying boats. This condition applies to; nil parts of the British Empire, and is as applicable in New Zealand as in Australia." . . ■ ~_ ,-. . After outlining the difficulties of financing the' project the writer states that when the Federal Government withdrew permission for the flight Australian Air Force mechanics engaged in prepirv ing the monoplane were taken off the work, but after an'exchange of cables between Mr Bruce and Mr Coates the former agreed formally to the machine leaving, on the distinct understanding that the Federal Government was not involved in any: way. Out of courtesy to the New Zealand Government, A.A'.F. mechanics were then permitted to resume the work of assemblage at Point Cook. ; ~ • \. :'

DELAY ALLEGEDLY URGED

The article proceeds: "The risks of the flight across the Tasman Sea are dealt with by. the representative 'of the 'Sydney Morning Herald. ; In his article published on Wednesday, morning he wrote' that expert aviators and others pleaded with the aviators to desist from the adventure until there was a- proper test:of the machine. ■ % was pointed out to them that there were graves doubts concerning the accuracy; and reliability of the. earth induction compass, as it had never been given a serious..test. It was definitely known that the compass deflected considerably from,its "true course.in• certain conditions.- ;■ •>' * ; -*.'v "The wireless apparatus was never in a satisfactory condition. The radio gear, that was' supplied with the monoplane from America never worked. The a,vi : ators had no experience of wireless transmission. \They believed that they were transmitting messages on the journey from Melbourne to Richmond, but actually hofa signal left the machine. The wireless generator was defective. Aboufj £3O WOtlM IlftVp gttpplied a new and .efficient'generator.;; • '''' ,; SHORT' OF MONEY v '■' "the'aviators had no money for that purpose—in fact, on their own candid admission thev' were broke before they left on their eventful journey. /They had, it was asserted, been living on grants.from publicity organisers during the past weeks. Durirtg that time there ■wiere ho. remittances sent from New Zea : land by the financial backers of tfie flight. The 'New Zealand Government never spent a farthing on the organi: sation or equipment of the flight. The lack of financial support was believed to .be responsible for- the haste of the aviators to get away. When the wireless engineer at Richmond offered to go with the aviators- on-a' non-stop flight to Adelaide- or Broken Hill to permit the compass-to be tested and adjusted (also the wireless apparatus) it was pointed out by Lieutenant iMoncrieff that ■ the machine wag. loaded for New Zealand arid 4 its first flight would be toward there. He said he realised, the risk, he Was taking,.but he was confident of success/ Captain Hood said calmly and 'We realise that if we sink, we; go-west, and that's 'all there is to HOOD A SICK MAN

;"When they started on the. journey Captain. Hoed was \ apparently a sick man, though he expressed himself- as physically fit and in the beet of health and spirits. It was, however, realised that he would only be a passenger on the jourriev, as his physical disability—the loss of a leg in-flie war, replaced by a wooden.one—would prevent his moving about in the small space < available or replacing LieutenanrMcncrieff at the control stick. 'Mv wife is waiting for me,Wsaid Captain Hood, .cheerily, and I. am flying to meet and;'greet her. At one stage the proposal, was seriously nlade;to the aviators and Captain Kight that while in Australia they should put; up-at the Sailors'. Rest or some other such humble lodging and get along with the preparations for the flight as best they could. In any case it would appear that when the aviators landed in Melbourne the trans-Tasman fund was only 'about.£3o in credit for. hotel and preliminary expenses. Efforts, which were more, or less successful, were made by Captain Kight to raise additional funds in Australia. This caused what should have'been a very serious undertaking being turned mainly into a publicity stunt in favour of certain interests. Inthe furtherance of this scheme Australian aviators assert that the lives of two brave and -gallant young men were jeopardised." <- •■ . .' . i '*■,''•■ • i

AN AEROPLANE HEARD

REPORT. FROM NORTH OF PATEA

WELLINGTON, 17th Jan. The Secretary of the P. and T. Department has received. advice, through the Chief Postmaster at Wanganui, from the acting-postmaster at Patea, that Mr Metcalfe, a resident of Alton, reported that he heard what sounded to be an aeroplane pass over his residence late on the night of Tuesday last. He was lying in bed, and says there appeared to be a suction of air from the roomas if the aeroplane was flying very low. He also heard the noise of a motor. ' The Patea postmaster is endeavouring to obtain further particulars. The Chief Postmaster at Greymouth advises that a search of the beaches at Bruce Bay and.Mahilahi resulted, negatively. ' , ••.■; rt , : ••• There' is no reply yet from Okuro. , WELLINGTON, This Day." The secretaiy of the General Post, Office received further, advice from the acting-postmaster at Patea, who investigated the Alton report alid states that Mr Frank Metcalfe heard what he supposed was nn aeroplane at, midnight. L appeared "to be flvmg in the direction south-west to north-east. He lives near the main road but is certain it was not a tar The noise was so . great that Ife thought the house was going to ' be, struck His eldest daughter also heard the noise of an engine which lasted about half a minute. •_ The nearest neighbour, about AH) yards away, heard nothing. * The country behind Alton is sparsely settled and very rough.