MEN OF THE AGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19519, 29 December 1937, Page 5

MEN OF THE AGE

TRIBUTE TO FLYERS . I •* " ( AVIATION DEVELOPMENT l > 'J ' • • : ■ f COMMERCE AND DEFENCE BRITISH PROGRESS (Pm Prat* Association.) ' ■ . AUCKLAND, this day. “During the last two days ,we have had the privilege of entertaining, in our own modest fashion, some of the men of the age,” said the Prime Minister,’the Rt.-Hon.-M. J. Savage, in proposing the health of Captain J. W. Burgess'and the crew of the Imperial Airways flying-boat, Centaurus at a Government dinner tendered to them last evening. Captain E. G. Musick and the members of the crew of the Pan-American Airways Samoan Clipper were also present, and the guests included Major A. E. Purvis, representing the Governor-General, Ministers of the Crown, members of Par-liament,-heads of the services and representatives -of civil and commercial interests.

The Prime Minister referred to the development of commercial aviation as one of the wonders of moderh civilisation, but stated that Governments in alt parts of the world had a duty to develop science and mechanical invention in the interests of the people and not as instruments of destruction. The presence on the Waitemata of the Centaurus and the Samoan Clipper showed how the great American nation and the British commonwealth of nations couldco-operate in harnessing progress. in aviation to the cause of international commercial relationships and friendship. Use of Advantages “Airmen like Captain Burgess and his crew are playing a great part in the development of civilisation,” Mr. Savage said, “and it is up to the representatives of the people to see that proper use is made of the advantages which they place at our disposal. I can- assure jou that New Zealand will not lag behind in this aspect.” Captain Burgess expressed gratitude on behalf of the crew and himself for the warmth of the welcome extended to them. Their’s was a purely goodwill flight, he said, but although he could not speak for the policy of the company, he personally hoped that before long much larger flyingboats would toe coming to New Zealand, via Australia, and returning to England via Canada, so that the whole Empire would be linked by air. v “To me this homecoming has been the experience of a lifetime.” said Captain Burgess. He added that Great Britain was making amazing progress in the field of commercial aviation. There was proof that she led the world in the construction of flying-boats. Her military aircraft were unparalleled and he was sure that it would not be long before her land aeroplanes for commercial purposes were developed to the same high standard.

PLANS FOR AIRPORT AUCKLAND FACILITIES HOPES OF THE BOARD (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. The plans of the Auckland Harbour Board for the development of the facilities required for an important air junction were outlined by the chairman of the board, the Hon. T. Bloodworth, at the luncheon tendered to the captain and crew of the flying boat Centaurus yesterday. The visit of the Samoan Clipper and the Centaurus was of general importance to the Dominion as a whole, said Mr. Bloodworth, but it was also of particular importance to Auckland as it was to the port of Auckland, now licensed and registered as an air port, that future flying boats were expected to come. The board had been privileged to provide within the precincts of the harbour base facilities for PanAmerican Airways, and it hoped that it would also be priviliged to provide a permanent home for Imperial Airways, or whatever company was formed to operate the Tasman service.

Assistance to Board The first visit by the Pan-American Clipper had given the board valuable information and experience and on this occasion great assistance had been rendered by Mr. Harold Gatty and the staff of the American company in advising and assisting in all arrangements made for handling the Centaurus. As far back as 1935, the board had entered into communication with Imperial Airways, asking for information as to the facilities required in the event of a visit by a flying boat to Auckland. Since that time there had been frequent interchanges of information between the board and thf .company. “We are anxious to do everything in our power to provide the facilities for aircraft on the Waitemata equal to the facilities provided for shipping,” Mr. Bloodworth added. "There is ample space available, and when the Tasman service is Inaugurated we will be ready to provide the same class of accommodation as has been provided for Pan-American Airways." Reference to the commercial activities of both Imperial Airways and Pan-American Airways was made subsequently by the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Fraser. He expressed the hope that both lines would be running permanently in the near future.