NO PENALTY.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20483, 8 December 1934, Page 13

NO PENALTY.

Tasman Flyers Charged. UNREGISTERED PLANE. EXPLANATION REGARDING CERTIFICATE. Per PresH Association. AUCKLAND. This Day. Raymond Galbrath Whitehead and Ernest Rex Nicholl, who flew the Tasman on November 22, appeared in the Police Court charged with making j a flight from Houhora to Auckland next day with an unregistered plane, without a certificate of airworthiness arid without carrying the prescribed documents. They pleaded guilty. Inspector Edwards said that the possible penalty was £2OO or six months’ imprisonment. The president of the Aero Club, Mr Spencer Mason, on behalf of the defendants, said that it was an honour for them. He said the machine had been certified as airworthy, but the certificate had been cancelled because an extra tank had been installed. The Magistrate commented that this j was the first time that the Air Naviga 1 tion Act had been invoked in any New I Zealand Court. It was difficult to J know what else the defendants could ‘ have done when they landed at ! Houhora. They had to get to Auckland and could not walk. He thought justice would be served if he convicted them and ordered them to pay costs on one charge. The other two charges would be withdrawn. “Of course,” he added, “I want it to be understood that it does not follow that if others do the same thing they will get off so lightly.” Inspector Edwards said that the object of the prosecution was to draw attention to the Air Navigation Act. The Magistrate: It was fortunat" that these men got here safely. If they had not then half the communitv might have been out searching for weeks.