THE TASMAN FLIGHT.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 21, 20 January 1928, Page 1

THE TASMAN FLIGHT.

At moment of penning these few editorial remarks anent the greatest aviation event in Antipodean history, the fate of the two intrepid aviators, Moncrieff and Hood, is but mere conjecture, and the much wished accomplishment of a pioneer aerial crossing of the Tasman Sea, separating New Zealand from Australia, a somewhat alluring but no less speculative dream. There still seems hope, however faint, of their having reached New Zealand shores, in the "Aotea-roa," if the evidence of the few seemingly reliable eye-witnesses of so great a spectacle, as thousands hoped to share in, can thus lead search parties to the successful discovery of the men themselves, dead or alive, and find some trace or other of their equally historic monoplane. Whether the "Aotea-roa" reached New Zealand, or sealed the fate of itself and precious burden in the depths uf tlve Tasman Sea, public opinion will not readily overlook political ineptitude in not making better provision for rendering their flight less hazardous on this side of the Tasman once news was received that the "Aotea-roa" was headed for New Zealand shores. Even supposing the need of aviation help had proved unnecessary, how glorious a thing it would have been, to see these bold adventurers being piloted homeward,

to their landing base, by comrade aviators, all close a-wing. Alas! the same old tale—where politicians tremble, let no man, of his own volition, dare to tread. It is good, howover, despite lack of political benediction, to think that tho spirit of adventure—even unto rashness—is not altogether suppressed, but rather heightened by this first, if ill-starred, attempt of Moncrieff and Hood to blaze an aerial trial between us and our Antipodean kinsmen. Should a near-future attempt be made to succeed, where these two heroic pioneer aviators of the Tasman Sea route made their glorious failure, let public opinion decide whether or not our New Zealand aviators shall be permitted—as they assuredly would have liked to recently, and have done since —to participate in welcoming home the victors; or, as the case may be, lending them their timely aid to reach New Zealand shores, and thus prove to the world at large that here, at the Antipodes, are airmen still who can face a bold adventure, and, if needs be, face death, as an alternative, equally unafraid.