FOUR LIVES LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23732, 12 August 1940, Page 11

FOUR LIVES LOST

AEROPLANE ACCIDENTS / CRASH INTO HILLSIDE ANOTHER FALLS IN WHEAT FIELD [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, August 10 Four lives have been lost in aeroplane accidents this week. A Wirraway training machine of the Royal Australian Air Force crashed into tho side of a precipitous gully near Hazelbrook, on the Blue Mountains, 60 miles west of Sydney, and tho two occupants were killed. If tho aeroplane had been 50 feet higher it would have cleared the mountain top. Thp victims were Pilot-Officer Harry Thomas Hopgood, 26, and Sergeant Vincent Charles Monterola, 23. Hopgood was burned with the aeroplane, and Monterola was hurled from the cockpit to his death. Investigations bv police and flying officers suggested that Hopgood lost his bearings in a heavy mist, and that when he descended to get his position, the aeroplane was in a valley enclosed by thickly-timbered hills. Before altitude could be gained tho muchino crashed into tho side of a cliff. Scout Mistress helps Miss Mary Campbell, who is a scout mistress at Hazelbrook, and who has l frequently taken scouts for hikes over the wild bush country, led a police party to the ridge where the aeroplane crashed. Thb machine had torn through the trees, ripping off branches and limbs as if they had been lopped. Portions of tlio aeroplane, a parachute, and a flying helmet were hanging to some of tho broken trees and burning petrol from the tanks had set these articles and the trees alight. The fire round the spot was so fierce that a largo area of bush was burned. Two members of the Australian Air Force were killed when an Air Force machine crashed near Narromino at 1 p.m. yesterday. The victims were: — Flying-Officer Holbert Frederick Smales, 30, instructor, and Aircraftman Arthur Edward Aklerson, 29, flight mechanic. , No3e Buried In Ground Tlie machine fell in a wheat crop on Redlands, the property of Messrs. Warren, about five miles from Narromino. Mr. J. H. A. Warren said that he saw the aeroplane circling over the property some time before the accident. The engine appeared to be running efficiently. He did not see or hear the crash, but later he saw the wrecked aeroplane. The nose of the machine was buried in the ground. The Air Board announcement stated that Flying-Officer Smales was an experienced civil pilot when he joined the Air Force. Aircraftman Aldersou joined as aircraft mechanic in December. FAMILY FOOD BILLS THE COST OF CHILDREN BASIC WAGE INVESTIGATION MELBOURNE, August 10 An adequate diet for a family of five, including two boys aged 14 and eight and a girl aged 12, would cost £1 19s 6d, Miss Elizabeth Wilmot, former dietitian of the Commonwealth Department of Health, said at the basic wage inquiry. Miss Wilmot stated that in compiling her estimate she had selected the most economical foods, with due regard to variety. The prices used were collected from numerous inexpensive shopping centres in Melbourne and Sydney over a period of two years. Miss Wilmot said that a child under five years would cost about 5s weekly to maintain in diet, but the cost for a child between five and eight years would be 8s 6d. A family with two children aged three and 13 years would cost £1 10s Id weekly. The present basic wage was- not far removed from the standard cost for a family of four. Mr. P. J. Clarey, M.L.C., the unions' advocate, said that tho establishment of aircraft factories in "Australia and the stimulation of industrial activity by war work were laying the foundations for the greatest industrial development in the future. The community could afford an increase in the basic wage. Australia's wealth was growing, and Budget figures showed that the position was "remarkably good."