AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 31 December 1927, Page 5

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT. 1 STEPS TO PREVENT IT. Press Assoeißibii ikel-lffc Telegraph-Copyrigh MELBOURNE, Friday. -Steps ti.r'ti being taken to prevent the flight of Captain Hood and Lieutenant Moncrieff to New Zealand. Mr Bruce stated to-night that he disapproved of the flight, as i.x the opinion of experts the machine was unsuitable. He had been in communication with Air Coates, who stated that the New Zealand Air Board had also expressed the opinion that a more suitable type of machine was desirable. MR. BRUCE’S ATTITUDE. (Received -Saturday, 12.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE; This Day. Mr Bruce states that he has communicated with Captain Knight advising him that the Federal Ministry docs xiot approve of the flight to New Zealand, and requesting no further attempt be made to carry it out. Mr Bruce said that when Captain Knight presenteu his letter of introduction from Mr Coates lie was under the impression that the New Zealand Ministry approved of the flight, and was asking the Commonwealth Ministry to facilitate it. In those circumstances lie felt courtesy to the Government, of a sister dominion demanded that the Australian Ministry, even if it did not approve of the flight, should place iio obstacle in the way of its being attempted. He had accordingly given instructions to the aviation authorities to give any assistance possible in assembling the machine.

At the same time lie cabled the New Zealand Government setting out the views of the Commonwealth Ministry and conveying'advice which had been received from aviation experts as to the undesirability of'the attempt being made with "the type of machine proposed. To that message Air Coates replied that the New Zealand Government had made it clear that it did not approve of the type of machine selected, and that those attempting the flight were doing so at their own risk. Air Coates added that the New Zealand Air Board had advised that a more suitable type of machine should be used. LINDBERGH’S FLIGHT. (Received Saturday, 9.40 a.m.) BELIZE (British Honduras), Friday. Lindbergh arrived here to-day from Guatemala City.—A.P.A. and Sun.