Smithy’s Delay.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19206, 21 October 1930, Page 6

Smithy’s Delay.

A Womans View.

FEATS of courage and skill, like Kingsford-Smith’s historic flights, compel our admiration, but it is his gestures of comradeship that win our hearts. In the race to Australia a lesser man than Smithy, seeing Hill’s crippled ’plane, might have passed over, saying, “All’s fair in love and war.” But his interest in the other airman was greater than the spirit of competition, and his recognition must have been balm to Hill, coming on top of his keen disappointment. Smithy lost a day, and Hill gave him his collapsible boat. This was like the handshake of friends when words are futile. It was the sincerest token of goodwill, and another demonstration of that remarkable instinct for doing the right thing at the right time, which has marked the flight of WingCommander C. E. Kingsford-Smith to the foremost place in aviation. It was the act of a true comrade, and the world will remember, too, that it was the act of an “Aussie.” B.E.S.