LOSS OF THE R101.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20716, 8 November 1930, Page 11

LOSS OF THE RlOl.

INQUIRY CONTINUED. LATE MINISTER'S ANXIETY. DENIAL OF UNDUE HASTE. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received November 7, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless. RUGBY, Nov. G. A minute written by the late Lord Thomson was produced in evidence at to-day's session of' the Court of Inquiry into the 11101 disaster. This had reference to tho preparations for the departure of tho airship to India and read: — " So long as the RlOl is ready to go to India by the last week in September this further delay in getting her altered may pass. I must insist upon tho programme for tho flight to India being adhered to, as I have made my plans accordingly." Air-Marshal Sir John Iliggins, who gave evidence, was asked whether the minute influenced the course of events. Ho said tho preparations might have been speeded up in consequence, but, on reports from Wing-Commander Colmore and Major Scott that tho trial flight was satisfactory he would, in any case, have been satisfied that the airship was safe to go to India

Lieutenant-Colonel J. T. Moore-Bra-bazon, one of the assessors, pointedly cross-examined the witness about the alleged lack of trial flights. He asked in view of the facts that the airship was practically new, that tho position of the gas bags had been changed, that one more had been inserted, also that she had been run at first with five engines though she had not been fully tested with four, whether witness, if he had dismissed Lord Thomson's urge from his mind, he would have ordered the start to India after ono trial 1 Witness replied: If anyone had thought the trial unsatisfactory I would not have had any difficulty in telling Lord Thomson. Air Vice-Marshal Dowding denied having cut down the trial flight because of " rush." Ho had instructed Wing-Com-mander Colmore to carry out fuU power trials as soon as possible after leaving for Indfa. If they were unsatisfactory he could have returned. The fact that the engines were at cruising speed up to tho time of the crash showed that his instructions were not followed. Ho did not know tho reason for that.