EXPERIMENTAL FLIGHTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17820, 1 July 1932, Page 7

EXPERIMENTAL FLIGHTS

WHEN MISHAPS OJCUR HEAVY EXPENSES PERTH, June 20. Referring yesterday to the search for the missing Junkers seaplane, the Chief Secretary, Mr. C. F. Baxter, wakl the time had come when international flights of an experimental nature should be permitted only with the eoncurrence of every country likely to be concerned. In the past Australian Governments had been put to much expense, mail services had been disorganised and loss of life occasioned by the necessity for searching for lost airmen in North Australia, and recurrences should be prevented. In the present case a launch, with four skilled and needed meat work employees, would be searching for an indefinite time. Heavy additional insurance payments on the launch became necessary as soon as the limits imposed by the present policy were passed. The Government was thus being put to expense l'or the rescue, now, of course, not to be evaded, of persons who had not been given permission to make an attempt involving much hazard.

If an international agreement existed and every airman contemplating such an attempt could make it subject only to the concurrence of the affected Governments, added Air. Baxter, much money would be saved, and when permission was unanimously given the Government concerned would be prepared for all emergencies.