WELCOME TO AIRMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 13

WELCOME TO AIRMAN.

MR. MENZIES AT WELLINGTON

RECEPTION BY MINISTER.

ACHIEVEMENT FOR EMPIRE.

[BY TELEGRArn. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "WELLINGTON. Thursday.

Piloting tho aeroplane which carried him across 1200 miles of ocean, Mr. Guy Menzies, hero of the first solo (light across the Tasman Sea, received an enthusiastic welcome when he arrived from Blenheim at the Rongotai aerodrome, Wellington, to-day. Accompanied by four escorting aeroplanes, the Southern Cross Junior circled over the large crowd gathered in and about the landing ground and made a perfect landing at about 10.20 a.m.

When the airman landed he was given a tumultuous ovation. The crowd rushed his machine and Mr. Menzies had some difficulty in getting out. He alighted and shook hands with tho official party and other residents.

Mr. Menzies was escorted across Cook Strait by Flight-Lieutenants J. C. Mercer and N. 11. Barlow, of Christchurch, flying two Moth aeroplanes, from the Canterbury Aero Club. Mr. F. J. McDonald, flying a Spartan aeroplane, and Mr. C. Waite, in a Gipsy Moth, left llongotai to meet the Southern Cross Junior and its escort shortly before 10 o'clock. Mr. A. E. James, part owner of the Southern Cross Junior, was a passenger in FlightLieutenant Mercer's aeroplane, and Mr. Blnkislon, advertising manager for the Atlantic Union Oil Company, travelled in Flight-Lieutenant Barlow's machine. The Mayor of Wellington, Mr. G. A. Troup, said a flight like Mr. Menzies' called for great nerve and no man without it could have faced such a formidable task.

The Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe," congratulated Mr. Menzies on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand. He said ho had heard some people say the flight was a foolhardy venture. It was not foolhardy, however, because Mr. Menzies, by his achievement, had done great deal for the British Empire. It was noticeablo that in almost every achievement of its kind a man of British birth and British blood had led the way. The future of aviation was a wonderful thing to look forward to, said the Minister, and ho hoped to ask the Government to increase the grant that had been allocated for flying purposes. Mr. Menzics said: "I cannot say very much. With the good aeroplane I had, and tho perfect equipment, it was not much." He expressed the opinion that in 10 years from now everyone would be living across the Tasman Sea. 'The airman said lalor that in company with Mr. James he would leave for Masterton and Hastings to-morrow morning, en route to Auckland. He hoped to be back in Wellington again by February 1 or 2, so as to catch a boat for Sydney. Apart from that his future plans were indefinite. With regard to tho proposed flight to Japan, the arrangements were almost complete. Final preparations would be made when he and Mr. James returned to Sydney.