FLYING THE TASMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 11

FLYING THE TASMAN

CODOCK AEROPLANE CANCELLATION OF TRIP EXPLANATION BY AIRMAN Surprise at the message from Australia that the Codock aeroplane was to fly to New Zealand 011 Saturday was expressed by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who was a through passenger by the Monterey from Sydney 011 Saturday. The airman said he had not authorised the message.

In a subsequent statement Sir Charles said he regretted that the necessity for his immediate visit to the United States, coupled with the delay in the delivery to him of the Codock, rendered it necessary for him to cancel the visit of the machine to New Zealand. It had been submitted for testing to the Australian Department of Civil Aviation and passed with flying colours a most exhaustive series of very stringent tests, delivery being made to him immediately prior to his departure from Australia on his present trip.

Assuming the machine would have been ready some months ago, he had announced that it would be flown across the Tasman by Squadron-Leader T. W. White. In view of the possibility of this type of machint. bf-ing operated by Dominion Airways, Limited, in New Zealand, he had been anxious to give the New Zealand public an opportunity of viewing the Codock. Now, however, for the reasons previously mentioned, and owing to the oncoming of winter, he did not feel justified in sending the machine to New Zealand. The provisional directors of Dominion Airways concurred in the cancellation of the flight. Sir Charles said he would like to make it clear that there was 110 contract, implied or otherwise,- by which Dominion Airways was bound to the purchase or operation of Codock aeroplanes. Statements had been made that the first Codock, the one just completed, had been constructed for this company. That was not so. It was made to his own order, and he proposed to add the machine to the fleet of aircraft already operated by Kingsford Smith Air Services, Limited, in Sydney, or else sell it to one of the Australian air services anxious to acquire it. After the Melbourne Centenary air race he intended to come to New Zealand to assist in the inauguration of the services to be operated by Dominion Airways. Squadron-Leader White or himself would then, irrespective of whether Codock machines were being operated by Dominion Airways, fly a Codock aeroplane to New Zealand so that New Zealanders could inspect the machine.

The organiser of Dominion Airways. Mr. T. S. Withers, said that at a conference of provisional directors on Saturday Sir Charles had offered to send the Codock to New Zealand if"it was felt he was in honour bound to do so. In view of the circumstances, however, it was unanimously agreed that the flight should be cancelled.