TASMAN FLIGHT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1932, Page 5

TASMAN FLIGHT

TO NEAV ZEALAND

ITS EFFECT UPON AVIATION.

(Per Press Association— Copyright.) CHRISTCHURCH, August 9. "Smithy s visit'as going to boost up the..minds of people about aviation again, and the mere fact of Ills:, being m the Dominion and’flying up aud down tHe country, will do a lot of good lor the aero clubs,” said. Flight-Lieuten-ant J. C. Mercer, instructor to the. Canterbury /Aero Club. - ‘‘When he is ihaking. flights from the- various . aerodromes people will: ; realise, that _. they have .aero' clubs . in; their , own > towns. And .from that, interest /new. pupils »j;e. , sure to an. iutere@ti .in flyiiig"; and enrol to learn. He should get many passengers if he intends to do joyriding, .for plenty: of people; will Ijave a .flight just for the sake of saying they have been with himvv ; ./ i - 1 ; Mr . Mercer. said , that it was almost certain that ;the .aero, plubs/would cooperate with Kingsford Smith 1 and no'd - field . days when he, visited the' various aerodromes. .Jty.might be, possible to get him to give lectures, to the *erj elubfl as he passed through • the various ■districts. *He - did.;iwt : think that there wag anything ■speeisl that Kingaford Smith coui.d do for aero./ cluhi,; butj 'tiuppaitiedi .by looturps,';. h : n; presence in the D°minion ; wffifid p ro v vide- the greatest, fil.ip, For | the second timis-.. Sir Chnries Kinsford 'Smith' will turn the nose of the Southern : Cross/ towards New - Zealand. He ;is not making a/ stunt'flight ; but is taking the best way of” bringing , the ’plane- to’ the Dominion . fof coni-'' / tnercial purposes. , His,/ first % ', which- hrtd All the elenfefits ‘of : adten- ! ture, and his later tour of 1 .tHe . Dominion were factors that convinced thousands of people cf ; the possibilities of flying. The ''rapid ,growth\ of / aero clubs afid keen interest in aviation arose directly out of hi-s visit. /-... ; /•; ■ It is Almost four "ypars sine©’; Kings; iford Smith made his double flight across the Tasman, . and *'up /to thd present the aero c’.ubs have advanced within economic iimiitsiy/"The ’ famous' AustraliAU’e. /atoond; vifeit ‘ is expected, by aero club officialg£to. give civil aviation .renev/td iifipetjoa.' • ‘