RECEPTION TO AIRMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20537, 11 April 1930, Page 11

RECEPTION TO AIRMEN.

ATTITUDE OF .THE MAYOR,;

CIVIC FUNCTION NOT REFUSED.

WAITING FOR INFORMATION

"I did nothing of fhe kind," said the Mayor, Mr. G. Baiidon, last evening, when his attention was drawn to a complaint thai ho had refused to lender ri reception to the New Zealand airmen, Flying-Officers C. Kay and H. L. Piper, who recently flew from England to Australia. Tho complaint was made by members of a deputation which waited on Mr. Baiidon recently.

In view of the merit of tha achievement; and the particular fact that Mr. Kay was born in Auckland, a Mangere deputation, consisting of Messrs. S. Rickards and S. W. House, asked Mr. Baiidon to arrangea civic reception to the airmen. Mr. Kay's relatives live at Mangere, and that district has been planning to mark the return of the airmen in a suitable manner.

The airmen are expected to leave Sydney by the Ulimaroa to-day, and to arrive at Auckland on Tuesday.

According to tho members of tho deputation, the Mayor said that civic receptions were becoming an everyday occurrence, and ho could not sec the necessity for it in this case. Mr. Baiidon has been out of town for a few clays, and is not .expected to return until Monday, hut he was communicated with by telephone by the Herald last evening.

"When it was, pointed out (o me that Mr. Kay was a, Mangere boy I saw there was some merit in the suggestion that had not been apparent i.o me," Mr. Baildon said. "I had no knowledge of tha airmen's movements or plans, and without this I was not going to give a.' decision on the matter. When' Messrs. Rickarda and House left me, it was with the under-. ■ standing that they would advise me as' soon as they learned the airmen's intentions, but up to this moment I have not J had any further word from them. If Mr. House and Mr. Rickards will place the information they have at my disposal I shall be prepared to discuss the question of a reception with them." The Auckland Aero Club is arranging to take part in the. welcome to Messrs. Kay and Piper, its programme including, the provision of an aeroplane escort into, . the harbour for the Ulimaroa.