PROPOSED R.A.F. FLIGHT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19454, 13 October 1937, Page 13

PROPOSED R.A.F. FLIGHT

SYDNEY CELEBRATIONS LONDON INTEREST NO OFFICIAL REQUEST LONDON, Sept. 5. Negotiations for a flight by a Royal Air Force squadron to Australia for the 150th anniversary celebrations have not been opened between the High Commissioner, Mr. S. M. Bruce, and the Air Ministry, because the Australia House official secretary has not yet received any communication from Sydney on the subject. Therelore, officially, he knows nothing about the subject. However, the suggestion has been received sympathetically in the highest quarters, and has interested British aviation experts. Enthusiasts, without waiting for the Australians to move in the matter, have already developed the suggestion so far that by the time Mr. Bruce officially begins to sound out the Air Ministry on the subject, the general nature o£ the proposal will be familiar. However much the Air Ministry might be favourably disposed towards the suggestion, no decision could be made until the financial aspect was considered, and the Treasury have a voice in that. Sydney Organisers Criticised The attitude generally in the most responsible aviation circles is that the proposal is excellent, but there has been a certain amount of criticism by Australians here of the apparent complete lack of appreciation in Australia of the spectacular nature of the flight and of "the tardy, half-hearted, milk-and-water way" in which the proposal has seemingly been handled in Sydney. It is pointed out by Australians that if Britain is persuaded to send out a squadron it would concern not only Sydney, but the Commonwealth, as there is no reason why the squadron should not be invited to visit all the cities of Australia. An aviation authority, who is close to official service opinion, said: "If our people send anything, I want them to send planes representing all arms of the Air Force, instead of merely sending one squadron." The Saturday Review says: "If Australia's British beginnings were depressingly sombre, its subsequent history has been one in which Australians have every justification of feeling intense pride. In that pride the whole Empire should share, and be anxious that an important Imperial event, such as the forthcoming anniversary, should be celebrated in a manner worthy, not only of Australia, but of the British Commonwealth of Nations. It is unthinkable that there ; should be reluctance by the Mother 1 Country or its Government to participate in these Australian cclebra-j tions."