RADIO OPERATOR OF SOUTHERN CROSS RECEIVES WELCOME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18630, 6 December 1928, Page 7

RADIO OPERATOR OF SOUTHERN CROSS RECEIVES WELCOME.

VISIT TO MEETING OF PROGRESS LEAGUE. Mr T. 11. M’Williams, radio operator on the Southern Cross In the Tasman flight. was present for a brief period at last evening’* meeting of the Canterbury Progress League, and was very interested in a working demonstration of the model of the Southern Cross made by Mr Martin, of Christchurch. The chairman (-Mr J. E. Strachan) welcomed Mr M’Williams. and said all were delighted to see him back in New Zealand. Mr M’Williams, in reply, said he was very pleased to have the honour of meeting the members of the League who had done so much for the crew of the Southern Cross after their Tasman flight. “ Even Smithy and Chariie

Ulm say that though they saw bigger crowds in Australia,” he said, “ the crowds in New Zealand were more enthusiastic than any they had met elsewhere. Being a New Zealander it was very gratifying for me to know that that was so. I assured them they were in for a wonderful reception, but the reception they' got exceeded anything I had expected. In regard to my association with the boy's, it is by no means severed. I am waiting to hear from them as to w r hat their movements are going to be in the future. I hope we will be able to make more flights in the ’plane. One gets confidence in the machine and confidence in Smithy’. I think Smithy' is outstanding in the world as a pilot. I do not think that there is any doubt, after what he brought us through, that we could go any'where at all with Smithy at the controls in the Southern Cross. I do not mind going with him anywhere.”

A demonstration of the working of the model of the Southern Cross was then given by Mr Martin. In supporting a motion for a vote of thanks to Mr Martin. Mr C. H. Clibborn said it would be a splendid thing if arrangements could be made to have the model exhibited in the

boys* secondary' schools. Large numbers of boy's would be only too glad to have an opportunity of seeing the model and getting some practical lessons in the working of a ’plane. If Mr Martin himself could not do it perhaps he would commend the suggestion to the Aero Club. Mr Martin thanked the members for the reception given him. He had made the model, he said, for the love of the thing. If he could do anything in his spare time along the lines suggested he would be pleased to do so.