LOSS OF AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25202, 15 May 1945, Page 4

LOSS OF AIRCRAFT

FARM LABOUR

ENGINEER IN COURT "MOST UNUSUAL CHARGE" The sensation at the Mangere airfield on Sunday night when the Union Airways 15-passenger aircraft Karoro was destroyed by fire after crashing into a dummy aeroplane had its sequel in the Police Court yesterday morning when an assistant air engineer, Frederick Demchy, aged 19, appeared before Mr J. H. Ltixford? S.M., charged with stealing a Lockheed Lodestar monoplane, rallied at about £40,000, the property of Union Airways, Ltd. Demchy, on the application of Detec-tive-Sergeant Aplin, was remanded until May 21. Mr Fitzherbert, who appeared for accused, said he realised it. was a very serious charge, but he wished to make application for bail, and Mr Luxford added that it was what one would call a most unusual charge. The facts in the case were not in dispute, said Mr Aplin, but he thought it would be preferable if the question of bail was considered by the magistrate in chambers. This was done and later it was announced that bail had been refused. The aircraft had only 140 gallons of petrol in the tanks, sufficient for about two hours' flying, when it was taken out of the hangar. After taxi-ing round the eastern edge of the aerodrome, about 300 yards from the Auckland Aero Club building, it struck a clump of young trees and then apparently the impact forced it against the parked dummy machine. Before it caught fire, the single occupant climbed out. Later Detectives Cromwell and Fraser went to a house and made an arrest. The aircraft was totally destroyed within about an hour in spite of the efforts of brigades from two nre stations

EFFECT ON SERVICE POSTPONING BOOKINGS EMERGENCY ARRANGEMENTS The loss of Union Airways' monoplane, with its accommodation for 15 passengers, will affect many travellers. Seats for flights to Wellington and the South Island have been fully booked up well into next month and as the company intends to run the same service with aircraft carrying only ten passengers, numbers will have to travel by other means. The company expects that it will have to offload passengers according to the date of their bookings and they will be unable to fly by the following day's plane. The new Gisborne service will be maintained. To keen the service running yesterday, a De Havilland 86 aircraft was flown to Auckland from Palmerston North. It left Auckland for Wellington at 10.45 a.in., instead of the usual 8.15 a.m., with ten passengers. A Lockheed Electra, which flew up from Christchurch yesterday afternoon, will leave this morning at eight o'clock for Palmerston North, Wellington, and Christchurch and will return to Auckland in the afternoon. Passengers for Dunedin will tranship at Wellington to another Electra which will leave at 11.45 a.m. for Christchurch and Dunedin.

CALLING UP OF MEN POLICY STATEMENT WANTED The view that, in the light of changed conditions, there should be a relaxation in the calling up of agricultural labour for armed service, was expressed by the Auckland District Council of Primary Production yesterday. The council also considered that an early announcement should be made of the policy of the Government in regard to the calling up of agricultural workers and their release from the forces. There were three cases of dairy herds in his district being sold as a result of the recent calling up of men, said Mr K A. Murray. Some statement of poliey should be made so that farmers would know where they were. It was probable that the men being called up now would be sent back to the farms in three months, and in the • meantime herds would have been sold. Two letters concerning members of the forces were received by the council. Due asked how the writer could obtain the release of his son from the Army in Ttaly in view of the surrender. He and i his wife were unable to carry on their farm another season unless he could be released. Another farmer asked for support for an application for the release of a son in the Air Force at Swanson. "This may raise the whole question of farm labour," said the chairman, Mr I R. C. Clark. "In both cases it seems] that the return of the men is very necessary if production is to be maintained. The whole question of manpower is due for overhaul. We have been acquiescent up until now, but the position has been changed by recent events in the European war theatre." The council's views will be forwarded to the National Council of Primary Productioru, and to the Minister of Agriculture. Mr Roberts. LAND FOR SOLDIERS

MANY APPLICATIONS "A considerable number of men from the last draft to return to New Zealand are making inquiries concerning farm settlement and lodging their applications, hoping to be established on their own farms for the commencement of the coming season," stated Mr F. P. Paitry, farming officer, in a report to the Auckland Rehabilitation Committee at a meeting yesterday. "Several properties have been submitted from various Lands and Survey Department branches," he continued, "where men are required to be employed until such time as the development work has been completed. These men will receive a wage of £5 10s a week, plus a cost of living bonus of 10s, with a promise of an undefined section when properties are ready for settlement. Schedules of these properties have been submitted to all eligible servicemen graded A for districts in which properties are situated. The servicemen are required to lodge their applications with Lands and Survey Department branches by specified times, when ballots will be held to decide which applicants will be employed."

NEW NURSES' HOME WHANGAREI HOSPITAL (0.C.) _ . WHANGAREI, Monday Estimated to cost £74,000, and with floor coverings and other works bringing the total to nearly £BO,OOO, the new nurses' home at the Whangarei Hospital is to be erected in concrete. This decision was made at- a meeting of the hoard today, when it was also decided to seek authority from the* Local Bodies Loans Board to raise a loan of £BO,OOO for the work. Plans for the building have already been approved by the Health Department and. as soon as authority to raise the loan is secured, tenders for the work will be called. The building will double the accommodation for the nursing staff. SITE AT TE AROHA PROPOSED NEW HOSPITAL (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday The Waikato Hospital Board today decided to request that an area of ten acres now held by Government departments in Te Aroha be transferred to the board for use as a site for a new hospital. The chairman, Mr J. Price, said the section was situated on the corner of Stanley and Ritchie Streets. Plans wore considered for alterations and additions to the Kenwvn Private Hospital, Te Aroha, before it could be taken over by the Jjoard. The cotst was estimated at £4OO. It was decided that, if satisfactory arrangements could be made, the board would lease the hospital for two years, with the right of renewal, at a'rental of £351 a year..