LESSONS FROM AIR RACE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19943, 30 October 1934, Page 7

LESSONS FROM AIR RACE

DAYS OF BIG SHIPS OVER VAST POSSIBILITIES OF AIR TRAVEL United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright AMSTERDAM, October 28. “Big ships are doomed,” declared Mr Anthony Fokker, interviewed by the British United Press. “Within a few years they will be superseded by aeroplanes, carrying 100 passengers from all parts of the world at 200 miles an hour, day and night, with the greatest comfort and safety. That’s the lesson of the Melbourne air race. It is a pity taxpayers are being saddled with subsidies for monstrous ships like the Queen Mary and Normandie. The millions spent on them ought to have been devoted to fleets of fast air liners.” HONOURS FOR AIRMEN BIG FUNCTION PROPOSED IN MELBOURNE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, October 29. Plans are now being formed for a luncheon at Parliament House to the visiting airmen, probably on Wednesday. The luncheon will possibly be preceded by a triumphal procession through the streets. The Orient and P. and O. Companies offered competitors free return passages to England. Mr Waller is taking to England 4000 feet of film depicting the Duke’s arrival and the finish of the race. The pictures are for London newspapers. AIR MAILS DIFFICULTIES WITH DUTCH SERVICE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright MELBOURNE, October 29. Thousands of letters from stamp collectors and others in Holland, brought to Australia by Mr Parmentier for reposting to Holland, were affected by the refusal of the Postal Department to allow carriage by the Dutch air liner. Letters must be forwarded by the ordinary steamer service. The Department claims that if permission were granted to the Dutch, it must also allow other competitors to do likewise. KINGSFORD SMITH’S ATTITUDE APPRECIATION OF PROMOTER’S STATEMENT United Press Association—By Electric Tel egraph —Copy rlgh t (Received October 29, 10.55 p.m.) SUVA, October 29. Interviewed at Naselai Beach prior to his take-off this morning, by “The Fiji Times and Herald,” Sir Charles Kingsford Smith said he greatly appreciated the kindly reference by Sir MacPherson Robertson at the Centenary Race luncheon, in which Sir MacPherson referred to his dealings with Sir Charles and paid a tribute to his character. “I hope it will clear up much unfriendly criticism,” added Sir Charles. HIGH PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALANDERS SHEAVES OF CONGRATULATIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 29, 9.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE, October 29. Hundreds of messages of congratulations have been received by SquadronLeader M. C. McGregor and H. C. Walker, who have made no plans for their return to New Zealand yet, owing to the accident to their friendly rivals, Squadron-Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying-Officer C. Kay, whom they are awaiting. Both are avoiding publicity, saying that flying is an everyday job for them. The airmen present an unusual sight in one of the leading hotels. They have not changed their clothes in which they made their flight. They smilingly said that their luggage was what they stood up in.

LORD BLEDISLOE’S MESSAGE

By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, October 29. The following message has been sent by the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, to Squadron-Leader McGregor and Mr H. C. Walker: “Heartiest congratulations on your fine achievement. New Zealand is proud of her sons.” MISHAP TO HEWETT’S ’PLANE SERIOUS DELAY PROBABLE United Press Association —By Eiectrio Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 29, 1 a.m.) MELBOURNE, October 29. A report received from Cloncurry slates that Squadron-Leader Hewett and Flying-Otflcer Kay, while takingoff from Cloncurry, hit a fence and damaged one wing, cracked a spar, and

damaged a rudder post. Repairs will probably occupy two days. One engine of the machine was giving trouble when the ’plane arrived here, but they intended to continue to Melbourne this morning, where they would have the engines overhauled. Nearing Melbourne Squadron-Leader D. E. Stodart and K. G. Stodart arrived at Charleville at 6 p.m. from Cloncurry, which they left at 1.45 p.m. Lieutenant M. Hansen and Jensen left Batavia for Rambang at 5.25 a.m., local time. They left Koepang at noon (Koepang time) for Darwin, where they arrived at 6.17 p.m. J. H. Wright and John Polando are still delayed at Calcutta with magneto Melrose’s Close Call C. J. Melrose left Darwin at 3.55 this morning for Newcastle Waters. He expected to reach Charleville to-night. A later message stated that Melrose was leaving Newcastle Waters at midnight for Cloncurry. Lost for four hours, C. J. Melrose landed at the Darwin aerodrome with all his petrol tanks dry. Melrose sighted land about 2 p.m„ and then ran into a thick dust storm. He was flying' around for hours. He said —“I did not see the Australian coastline until I was right over it. Then, thinking I had drifted north-east, X altered the course and flew about 100 miles. Suddenly I saw Point Pearce, near the West Australian border, and then I knew where I was, end made for Darwin, 200 miles away. When I discovered the petrol failing, I fought hard to gain altitude, and a mile from the Darwin aerodrome the engine stopped. I glided down to the aerodrome in a wide swoop. I had the parachute and rubber canoe, and X was going to use the parachute if I cleared the harbour, and in case I did not I had the canoe inflated, and ready. However, the wind kicked me in and saved my life.” Melrose was very excited when he landed. He said he was the luckiest man in the world to reach the aerodrome. “I thought it was the end,” he said. Melrose’s actual flying time to Darwin was 94 hours. He landed at 5.30 p.m.