AIR RACE PILOTS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 90, 10 January 1935, Page 3

AIR RACE PILOTS

Alleged Insult to Hewett and Kay

“A LARGE AND UGLY BLOT”

Wfiy is the Tainui, the De Havillaud Dragon Rapide which flew in the Centenary Air Race and later crossed the Tasman piloted by Squadron Leader J. D. Hewett and Flying Officer O. E. Kay, not now flown by either of them? Why has Flight Lieutenant D. HL Allan, pilot instructor of the Auckland Aero Club, been given the job of pilot? What are the relations between the ex-pilots of the machine and the New Zealand Centenary Air Race Committee whose property it is? These questions and others have been raised by correspondents in the Auckland Press, and the matter is being watched keenly by the citizens of Auckland and by those connected with aviation.

The matter was first raised by Mr. W. E. Hughes, who asked in the “New Zealand Herald” on January 2: “Can anyone tell me why Squadron Leader Hewett is not piloting the Tainui, which he so splendidly brought out from England to New Zealand? “I understand that the Centenary Air Art Union and the exchange conceded by the Government brought in about £6soo—this added to the value of the aeroplane is a big sum of money; and after the guarantors and all expenses are paid, surely this money belongs to Hewett and Kay,” he wrote. “I am voicing the opinion of thousands of people in New Zealand who, personally, subscribed because of the great name Hewett bore both as a pilot and soldier. These men have seemingly been insulted after receiving less than their bare expenses, and I can say with certainty have had a very lean Christmas. Hewett’s Aeroplane Sold. “Hewett’s own aeroplane has been sold and he has had to use the proceeds to keep his family and himself since his return, also his business has gone mostly to the Air Club. Is nothing to be done for these men who have done so much to bring New Zealand to the notice of the world, and are they to be turned away without recognition, while those who have done very little place a strange pilot in charge of the machine and presumably get all benefits?” This was followed by another letter, the author of which was Mr. James Stimpson, who said that the previous letter had “brought to light an act which is a large and ugly blot on the sporting spirit with which this Dominion is supposed to abound.” “Hewett, at considerable expense and personal risk, has put New Zealand on the map of the aviation world by his splendid effort in the centenary air race, and, having landed the plane in New Zealand, he is promptly ditched by the Auckland Air Race Committee,” this correspondent asserted. “Further to blacken their name the club then used the Tainui as a money-making concern by snatching the joy-riding and taxi-work from such as whose enterprise in pioneering commercial aviation in New Zealand with the Falcon Airways has done so much to convince the public of the safety and dependability of flying. Explanation Sought. At this stage the “Herald” sought an official statement from the bodies concerned, and Mr. F. B. Cadman, the only office-bearer of both the New Zealand Centenary Air Race Committee and the Auckland Aero Club in Auckland at the time, said that the machine was the property of the Centenary Air Race Committee, which was paying Flight Lieutenant D. M, Allan a special fee, based on flying time, to pilot the machine when required. The aero club was not contributing to this special payment, although it was paying the instructor’s salary as usual. The air race committee was not paying the club anything for the use of its aerodrome at Mangere, from which the machine was being operated.

“We will have to sell the machine to get our money back,” Mr. Cadman said. The club, however, had no financial interest in the Tainui, and was making nothing from the operation of the craft from Mangere aerodrome. The club had assisted the scheme for a New Zealand entry In the race when it was first advanced, however, and was now doing its best to help the guarantors who had given the necessary financial support to enable the entry to be made. Presentation of Medals.

Another correspondent, Mr. S. M.. Rhodes, then replied that Mr. Cadman’s statement had made the matter worse, not better, for he had said that the Centenary Air Race Committee was augmenting the income of a club instructor to fly the machine. “The latest insult is the way in which the Centenary air medals were given to our men,” he continued. “Prince Henry presented the air race medals to Squadron Leader McGregor and Mr. Walker, but the late crew of the Tainui were given theirs in the Mayor’s private room with an audience of some half-dozen people. “No invitations were sent to the public, not even to the wives of the recipients. Mr. Oliver Nicholson (president of the Centenary Air Committee) and the big guarantors were conspicuous by their absence. Mr. Stewart was told of the festivity some half-hour before it took place, and under the circumstances declined. Squadron Leader Hewett was verbally Invited a couple of days before, but considered the insult so grave to his wife and himself that he was not present. “Sir Macpherson Robertson asked that these medals be presented in a fitting manner, and I can hardly lieve he will think this was done. Auckland and Palmerston North seem to differ widely in their ideas of a fitting and dignified manner of presenting such medals. “I do hope the public will see justice done to these men. Also, if, as Mr. Cadman says, his only wish is to pay back the guarantors, it was an obvious mistake to have treated Squadron Leader Hewett as they have, for to my knowledge hundreds of people have refused (including myself) to go up in the Tainui because of the change of pilot.”