AIR ACCIDENTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21180, 29 October 1938, Page 17

AIR ACCIDENTS

RECONSTITUTION OF OFFICIAL INQUIRY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copy righ t (Received October 28, 6.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, October 28. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A Lyons) stated that if the inquiry which the reconstituted Air Accidents Investigation Committee conducts into the Kyeema disaster is not conclusive, an inquiry with a wider scope will be ordered by the Federal Government. Mr Lyons announced that the two’ additional members of the committee will be Mr E. F. Herring. K.C., and Captain P. G. Taylor. The Minister of Defence (Mr H. V. Thorby) announced that the Lorenzo radio beacons at Essendon, Mascot, Canberra, Kempsey and Launceston would be tested next week and would come into regular operation immediately after the completion of the tests.

OFFICIAL INQUIRY ORDERED REASONS FOR FAILURES SOUGHT Unltea Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received October 29, 12.10 a m.) SYDNEY, October 28. An inquiry ordered by the Commonwealth Government into the air disaster on Tuesday when the air liner Kyeema crashed into Mount Dandenong killing 18 persons who were aboard, began to-day. "We are not here to find out why thif machine crashed, but to find out the reason for the failure to instal a radio beacon at Essendon,” said Mr Little, who represented the Australian Institute of Air Pilots and Navigators at the inquiry. "We can call evidence to show that this crash could have been averted."

As the inquiry was about to adjourn till Monday, Mr Little said that the people for whom he was appearing, were particularly interested in the absence of facilities and machines for locating direction, the antiquity of wireless installations in the machines, and the absence of a radio beam. He asked the committee whether it could make available any documents on reports and recommendations made by the Civil Aviation Board, with information as to what reports have been made, to whom they have been made, and whether they had been shelved.

The chairman of the committee (Colonel T. Murdoch) in assuring Mr Little that inquiries would be made, suggested that he should renew his application later. Seven witnesses who were near the scene of the crash, a technical witness and a police officer, were examined before the inquiry adjourned.