NO CHECK ON AIRMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20767, 9 January 1931, Page 12

NO CHECK ON AIRMEN.

ADVISABILITY OF FLIGHTS.

AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL'S VIEW

NO ENCOURAGEMENT IF ASKED. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. (Received January fi, 11.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Jan. 8. Dealing with Mr. Guy Mvnzics' flight to New Zealand, the Evening News makes a feature of comment in the.Now Zealand press on the absence of any official means in Australia or New Zealand of prevanting foolhardy flights, which is termed regrettable.

Lieutenant-Colonel 11. C. Brinsmead, Director of Civil Aviation, in reply said Mr. Menz ; es did not seek permission for his flight, and if he had dono so it could only havo been frowned upon and discouraged. But if it had been a commercial enterprise, and he had carried a passongcr, the Government could have stopped it. At tho same time, Colonel Brinsmead said ho was greatly relieved that Mr. Menzics got through safely. Ho t?ioroughly appreciated the young airman's intrepidity, but it was inadvisable for any inexperienced person to take such chances.

"TIME TO GET DOWN."

LONELY AND DROWSY.

"URGE" TO LEAVE MIS COURSE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PREPS ASSOCIATION.] HOKITIKA. Thursday.

" Exactly 11 hours after I took off I reached the New Zealand coast near Okarito," said Mr. Guv Menzies in an interview with the Press .Association. " The fog was gathering and thero were thick banks of clouds. The mountains I was afraid of, for when there is fog yon cannot seo them until you are right.on to them. It was time* to get down. I did not care if I had landed in trees.

"I was as deaf as a post when I landed and it was some hours beforo I could hear distinctly. Tho harness held mo in tho cockpit and when I undid tho straps I fell head-first into the mud. I got a few scratches on the lips, but nothing much."

Mr. Menzies said that at times lie was extremely lonely and longed for the sight of a steamer. Thero were periods of drowsiness which he had to fight against. Tho biggest battle was against a subconscious mental condition telling him that he was being carried off his course. "All the time," said Mr. Menzies, "there was something urging me to turn north after I had covered 500 miles, that that would have been fatal and it was the deuce fighting off those spasms. Many fellows have come to grief through following their promptings instead of their instruments. Tho airman's luggage was one sparo collar, a razor and a toothbrush.

SOUVENIRS PRESENTED.

NUGGET AND GREENSTONE. CARRIED THROUGH STREETS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HOKITIKA, Thursday. No sooner had the airman left his hotel this evening than he was carried through tho streets to tho Princess Theatre and there, beforo a crowded house, presented with two fino souvenirs by tho people of Hokitika. Mr. .T. Murdoch, exchairman of tho Westland County Council, introduced Mr.- Menzies and ho praised the courage and skill of his flight. "I havo been asked to present to this intrepid aviator a nugget of gold found in Westland," ho said. "We ask him to accept it from the people of Hokitika in admiration for his wonderful feat. For the members of the Taintii family of Arahura I have to present him also with a piece of greenstone." Mr. Murdoch said ho hoped that the Governments of New Zealand and Australia would mark the fact that. Westland was the natural landing ground for the flier of the future. Mr. Menzies received the presentations amid cheers and the singing of "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow." He replied briefly explaining that he was at a loss to express himself. Ho would treasure tho souvenirs very, very much.