RECEPTION MAY BE AT ’DROME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19272, 8 January 1931, Page 9

RECEPTION MAY BE AT ’DROME.

MR MENZIES PROMISED WARM WELCOME HERE.

Whether the public reception to Mr Menzies at Christchurch will be held at the Wigram Aerodrome, as was the case with Air-Commodore C. E. Kingsford Smith, or in the city itself, will depend upon the way in which Mr Menzies travels to Christchurch from the West Coast. It is considered possible that he will not come on to this side of the Alps until the Southern Cross Junior is in flying trim again. The suggestion has been made that, if the repairs are to take much time, a Canterbury Aero Club machine could be used to bring the airman to Christchurch.

' It is considered likely that Mr Menzies will make the journey to Christchurch by train, in which case the reception will be held at some convenient place in the city. The secretary of the Canterbury Aero Club (Mr P. R. Climie) states that a wonderful reception could be arranged for Mr Menzies at the Wigram Aerodrome, where the romance of the trans-Tasman flight would be more deeply impressed upon the public than if the reception were held in the city. Mr Climie has suggested that a charge for admission should be made to the reception, and the proceeds given to Mr Menzies. Mr Climie, although on annual holiday just now, is prepared to undertake the organisation of a reception as soon as word of Mr Menzies’s intended visit is received. He has suggested that, if the airman cannot make the trip in his own machine, one from the Canterbury Aero Club might be provided. May Fly From Springfield. Nj2 official instructions have been received by the staff at Wigram Aerodrome as to the welcome to be given io Mr Menzies. It is almost certain that something will be done, probably in connection with the Aero Club, but no orders have yet come from Wing-Commander GrantDalton. The uncertainty of the movements of the flyer make arrangements indefinite. It is thought likely that if he decided to come by train, machines from Wigram will meet him at Springfield and fly him to the city.

WILL NEW PROPELLER BE AVAILABLE HERE?

The staff at Wigram Aerodrome are waiting with the greatest interest to find out definitely the amount of dam®®®H3ISHI@SIIS S HI E§ @ 13 ® jg g] g*j [

age to Menzies’s machine. It is thought likely that there will be some difficulty in obtaining a suitable propeller, as the propeller on Menzies’s ’plane is not used by the Air Force in New Zealand In the absence of definite facts, speculation is being freely indulged in at Wigram. Most of those qualified to know are of the opinion that the damage will in all probability prove slight.