COBHAM PLEADS FOR LENIENCY SHOULD HE FAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17879, 22 June 1926, Page 7

COBHAM PLEADS FOR LENIENCY SHOULD HE FAIL.

STARTS AT END OF WEEK FOR AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Aus. and N.ZT Cable Association. (Received June 22, Noon.) LONDON, June 21. At a • farewell luncheon to the airman Captain Cobham, Sir Joseph Cook, wishing him Good speed, said the conditions in Australia made air development imperatives Without flying Australia would remain isolated and marobned within the Empire. He saw no reason why Captain Cobham should not return with Mr Bruce for the Imperial Conference. Captain Cobham announced that he was starting at the end of the week aboard a seaplane owing to the monsoons in India. He would change the floats for wheels at Port Darwin. He pleaded for leniency in case of failure, and emphasised the lack of organisation and the increased risks. Once the route was organised anybody would be able to push off and fly* anywhere, being holders of licenses' under the Land Agents Act, they held themselves out as land agents. In Campbell’s case, Chief-Detective Gibson said that defendant thought he had the right to carry on under the license of Battersby and Co., of Dunedin. Mr Paterson, who appeared for Campbell, said that, he had been a partner in the firm of Spiers, Campbell and Co. He had signed a dissolution of partnership, but his partner had not signed it. He had signed an agreement to carry' on Battersby and Co.'s farm department, and had paid a deposit, but had not received any’ notice from Battersby and Co. that he had not been accepted. It was a technical breach of the Act. He had applied for a license. The Magistrate (Mr H. A. Young S.M.) : Is there likely’ to be any objection to granting him a license? Mr Gibson: No; none at ail.