TASMAN FLIERS’ TOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 7

TASMAN FLIERS’ TOUR

CAUSE OF ABANDONMENT NO PROFIT IN THE UNDERTAKING. AUCKLAND OFFICIAL VIEWPOINT. DAMAGE TO PLANE NOT REASON. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. An explanation of the abandonment of the tour of the Dominion by the two New Zealand aeroplanes that had recently competed in the Melbourne centenary air race was made by Mr. L». W. Swan, secretary to the Auckland centenary air race committee. Mr. Swan stated that he had been sent to Dannevirke by the committee for the purpose of making a report on the results of the combined tour of the Auckland Dragon and the Manawatu committee s Miles Hawk, principally as affecting the finances of the Auckland committee. “Upon returning to Auckland, he stated, “a meeting of the committee was held and as a result of my report it was unanimously decided that no financial gain was likely to accrue by continuing with the tour as planned. This decision was largely based on the fact that many of the places to be visited, more particularly in the South Island, do not possess an aerodrome which our experience has taught us is required for a machine of the nature of the Dragon, which is an air liner in miniature and carries eight passengers besides the. pilot.” In further explanation, Mr. Swan said the venture had cost approximately £BOOO, of which sum it was still neces sary to recover a further £3OO over and above that already obtained. As far as the tour had progressed it had involved a loss and the committee had decided to call the tour off. It had been erroneously reported that the tour had been abandoned owing to the damage to the Tainui, which had been flown from Dannevirke to Auckland in very good time and would be used for passenger flights at Mangere during the week-end. Squadron-Leader* J. D. Hewett, who, with Flying-Officer C. E. Kay, flew the Tainui in the air. race and later across the Tasman Sea, stated that there was no question of the aeroplane being damaged. He maintained that there was still considerable interest in the tom*. The fact thafethere were two aeroplanes, both of which had taken pari in the great air race being in itself the principal draw. Flying-Officer Kay, apart from substantiating the fact that the tour had not been abandoned on account of the damage, stated that he had little to say on th-* matter. He had expected the tour was to be proceeded with and was anticipating going south when orders had been received two days ago to fly the aeroplane back to Auckland.