No Financial Gain.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20476, 30 November 1934, Page 6

No Financial Gain.

Tour Abandoned

Statement by Secretary of Committee. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, This Day. it was agreed that no financial gain was likely to accrue from continuing the tour by the two New Zealand aeroplanes which recently competed in the Centenary Air Race it was decided to abandon the projected visit to all Dominion cities. That explanation was made yesterday by Mr L. W. Swan, secretary of the Auckland committee of the Melbourne Centenary Air Race Committee. Mr Swan stated he had been sent to Dannevirke by the committee for the purpose of making a report on the results of the combined tour of the Dragon and the Manawatu Society’s Miles Hawk, principally as affecting the finances of the Auckland committee. “ Upon returning to Auckland,” he stated, “ a meeting of the committee was held, and as a result of the report it was unanimously decided that no financial gain was likely to accrue by continuing with the tour as planned. This decision was largely based on the fact that many of the places to be visited, more particularly in the South Island, do not possess an aerodrome, which our experience has taught us is required for a machine of the nature of the Dragon, which is an air liner in miniature, and carries eight passengers besides the pilot.” Cost of the Venture. In further explanation Mr Swan said the venture had cost approximately £BOOO, of which sum it was still necessary to recover a further £3OO over and above that already obtained. As far as the tour had progressed it had involved loss, and the committee had decided to call the tour off. It had been erroneously reported that the tour had been abandoned owing to damage to the Tainui, which had been flown from Dannevirke to Auckland in very good time, and would be used for passenger flights at Mangere during the week-end. Referring to the cancellation of the tour in so far as it affected the pilots, SquadronLeader Hewlett, who with Flying-Officer Kay flew the Tainui in the air race and later across the Tasman Sea, stated that there was no question of the aeroplane being damaged. He maintained there was still considerable interest in the tour, the fact that there were two aeroplanes, both of which had taken part in the great air race, being in itself the principal draw. Flying-Officer Kay, apart from substantiating the fact that the tour had not been abandoned on account of damage, stated he had little to say on the matter. He had- expected that the tour was to be proceeded with, and w r as anticipating going south, when orders had been received two days ago to fly the aeroplane back to Auckland.