TASMAN FLIGHT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18547, 22 August 1928, Page 10

TASMAN FLIGHT.

PROPOSAL MADE TO ENDOW BEDS IN CITY HOSPITALS.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11. Proposals for endowing beds in the Christchurch Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin and Sydney Hospitals in memory of the coming flight of the Southern Cross across the Tasman were contained in a letter from the secretary of the Sydney Hospital read at to-day’s meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. The letter read:— “I have very much pleasure on behalf of the directors of the Sydney Hospital In stating for your information that Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith. A.F.C., and Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ulm, co-commanders of the Southern Cross, have enthusiastically complied with our request to carry with them on their Australian-New Zealand flight four silken flags, artistically made, vi.: One Union Jack, one New Zealand, one Royal Air Force, one Australian. "The flags bear the signatures of these two history makers and a certificate of the authenticity from the secretary of Sydney Hospital. The silken cords with which these flags will be hung as bannerets are going forward by float, direct to the hospitals named later on in this letter. Official messages of goodwill will be conveyed by the airmen. The flags and message will be enclosed In a specially prepared tin case and soldered. The package will be addressed to his Excellency the Governor-General, who will be asked to hand over the flags to you. The very hearty co-operation of the hospital authorities, the respective mayors an dthe general public, on behalf of the principal hospitals at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, is sought to sell the flags to the very best advantage, one flag for each hospital. The money so raised for each flag to be divided as follows:—50 per cent to be allocated to each of the four hospitals and 50 per cent to the Sydney Hospital.

“Four other flags will be posted back immediately, addressed to the Sydney Hospital, care of the Governor of New South Wales. These four flags will be sold in Sydney and the money so raised will also be divided in the same manner as the first-mentioned four. Offers for the flags will be accepted from all parts of the Commonwealth and the sale conducted by an influential committee. Thus full reciprocity will be maintained between New Zealand and New South Wales in this patriotic and humanitarian movement. The Sydney Hospital gladly provides the flags free of cost to the New Zealand hospitals, thus enabling the full proceeds being divided as laid down herein, without any expense falling on the New Zealand hospitals. It is earnestly believed that if you are good enough to publicly commend the project a substantial sum will be raised for the benefit of the respective hospitals. It is felt that no more appropriate and beneficial means could be adopted to celebrate the opening of air travel to New Zealandfrom Australia, whic hwill be the accomplishment of a long pioneering undertaking. This new link .will bind New Zealanders and Australians closer together, and will be of first importance both in peace and war in a thousand ways yet undreamt of. Comparatively it is only second in importance to the discovery and exploration work of Captain Cook. He travelled on the sea and the Southern Cross over the sea.

"The public will be afforded a unique and wonderful opportunity of purchasing these flags as mementos of the first air flights over the Tasman Sea and the completion of the air chain from London to New Zealand, and showing their regard for courage, endurance and organisation, which has always been the pride of the British race. It will be a great historical event and add a very important milestone to the history of New Zealand. A cable expressing concurrence with this proposal will indeed be keenly appreciated, and give us at this end confidence that the right, thing is being done. The Now Zealand Government representative in Sydney has been duly advised and publicity at the right time is being arranged for. "It Ts trusted that Captain Kingsford Smith will, in addition, he willing to advise New Zealand about the flags while en route. Ho is at present in West Australia, and this cannot be fixed. If full advantage of the wave of enthusiasm which will be created in New Zealand and here by this flight bo taken it is fervently believed that sufficient money will be raised to endow a bed in perpetuity in the five hospitals, to be known as "The Southern Cross Bed, and a very substantial and permanent service rendered to the people. In the best interests of the four New Zealand hospitals and the Sydney Hospital the suggestion is ventured that you may be pleased, sir, on receipt of this communication, to immediately give publicity to this matter, urging the people to take the scheme up enthusiastically.” Mr 11. H. Holland moved that the letter be referred to the Finance Committee. The Rev J. K. Archer moved as an amendment: “That we express our regret that we cannot accede to the request.” He did not think it right that a lot of money should be raised here to send half of it to Sydney. He was quite in favour of a local effort for the local hospitals, but 50 per cent should not be sent away. The chairman (Mr H. J. Otley): But they 'will return 50 per cent here. Mr Archer: Will they return the same amount as wc send? The chairman: They may return more. Mr Archer: If we are going to get the same amount it will be all right. Mr Archer withdrew his amendment, and the letter was referred to the Finance Committee with power to act. ,