YOUNG FLIERS IN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1934, Page 4

YOUNG FLIERS IN COURT

CROSSING OF THE TASMAN COSTS ONLY ON ONE CHARGE. MAGISTRATE GIVES WARNING. NOT SO LENIENT ANOTHER TIME. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Dec. 8. Raymond Galbraith Whitehead and Ernest Rex Nicholl, who flew the Tasman on November 22, appeared in the Police Court charged with making a flight from Houhora to Auckland .the next day in an unregistered plane without a certificate of airworthiness and without carrying the prescribed documents. They pleaded guilty. Inspector Edward said the possible penalty was £2OO or six months’ imprisonment. The president of the Auckland Aero Club, Mr. Spencer Mason, on behalf of the defendants, said the machine had been certified airworthy but the certificate had been cancelled because an extra tank had been installed. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., commented that this was the first time the Air Navigation Act had been invoked in any New Zealand court. It was difficult to know what else the defendants could have done when they landed at Houhora. They had to get to Auckland and could not walk. He thought justice would be served if he convicted them and ordered them to pay costs on one charge. The other two charges would be withdrawn. “Of course,” he added, “I want it to be understood it does not follow that if others do the same thing they will get off so lightly.” Inspector Edwards said the object .of the prosecution was to draw attention to the Air Navigation Act Mr. Hunt: “It was fortunate that these men got here safely/. If they had not then half the community might have been out searching for weeks.”