TO HOP OFF ON FRIDAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 243, 4 January 1928, Page 1

TO HOP OFF ON FRIDAY

AIRMEN AND TASMAN FLIGHT MR. COATES MAKES POSITION CLEAR By Cable.— Press Association. — Copyright. Received 11.30 a m. MELBOURNE, To-day. IT is stated that the New Zealand airmen intend to remain * at Richmond until the full moon, and begin their flight on Friday. &

jyjTR. COATES’S cablegram to Mr. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, read: “I think a slight misunderstanding has occurred. The New Zealand Government has been advised by the Chief Advisory Officer of the New Zealand Air Board that the machine selected, and now in Australia, is suitable to cover the distance. The Government has indicated to the promoters that a flying-boat or amphibian machine was - considered desirable, but the promoters pressed to be allowed to attempt the flight with the machine now in Australia, and the New Zealand Government made it quite plain to Captain Kight and his party that the Government did not accept any responsibility, but would not stand in the way, and would render legitimate assistance. Letters were given accordingly, and in the circumstances I should be glad if you could allow Captain Kight and his party to proceed, the position having been made quite clear to them.” Mr. Bruce, in reply, said his Government had decided to concur. He is instructing the aviation authorities to render assistance to prepare for the flight, in the event of its being attempted. Also, he has asked the Meteorological Department to supply all the possible data. He must, however, make it clear that his Government still considers it extremely undesirable that the attempt should be made in a machine of the type proposed, and he refrained from taking steps to prevent the flight only in view of the direct request from Mr. Coates. An earlier message from Melbourne said the airmen had left Point Cook in their monoplane. It was expected they would lend at Sydney, although no official statement was made as to their destination. Considerable secrecy was maintained regarding their objective, and

It was at first suggested that the flight was a trial one. When interviewed prior to their departure, Captain J. L. Kight refused to make a statement. "UNINTELLIGIBLE” Another message said Lieutenant J. R. Moncrieff stated that a cablegram had been received from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. Coates, in connection with the proposed flight to New Zealand, but it was unintelligible. A further cablegram had been sent to Mr. Coates asking for an explanation. In the meantime a further trial flight was made and proved most successful. Captain Kight said that although Mr. Bruce had requested them to discontinue their preparations, the arrangements for the flight had gone so far that it would be a great disappointment if the New Zealand Government withdrew its approval. Owing to bad weather the airmen landed at Bongbong, near Mossvale.— A. and N.Z.

STATEMENT BY TRUSTEE MR. COATES THANKED P7'ess Association. DANNEVIRKE, To-day. Mr. A. McNicol, trustee for the trans-Tasman flight, states that the New Zealand airmen desire to thank Mr. Coates for his action in securing permission for the fight from the Australian authorities. Lieut. Moncrieff, leader of the expedition, holds that he has a better chance of making the crossing by using a powerful airplane rather than by seaplane, and this view is shared by Captain Hood, who is accompanying him. The Aotea-Roa was specially constructed for the Tasman flight by the Ryan Air Line, on the lines of the machine in which Colonel Lindbergh flew the Atlantic. A previous message stated that the New Zealand Government was in no way Involved In the flight beyond asking the Australian Government at the request of the two New Zealand airmen to afford the necessary facilities.