PROPOSED TASMAN FLIGHT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3746, 26 January 1928, Page 3

PROPOSED TASMAN FLIGHT.

DISAPPROVED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES. Melbourne, January 24. In pursuance of their intention to place before the Federal authorities their plans for a flight from Australia to New Zealand, Captain Moody and Mr. .Jolley interviewed Colonel Brinsmead, who later made a statement that the attitude of the Ministry towards the proposed flight had already, been clearly expressed. “I indicated to Captain Moody and Mr. Jolley,” he said, “that no departmental facilities would be placed at the disposal of any person who proposed to organise a long oversea flight in aeroplanes designed specifically for land flying. Knowing the particular machine which Captain Moody and Mr. Jolley propose to use is intended for 'this purpose, the authorities will not recognise it in any manner whatsoever, and the use of Governmen aerodromes for the proposed flight is refused.” Although the Commonwealth Government has refused to aid Captain Moody and Mr. Jolley, the Government has no power to stop the flight. Limited by the Constitution, it has only power to deal with interstate and foreign matters connected with flying, and even these regulations are indefinite. A REPLY TO MR, BAILEY. Hamilton, January 24. Mr. Philip Bailey, of Hamilton, who expressed a willingness to undertake a trans-Tasman flight in a DH9 machine if one was available, and cabled to Major De Haviland, of Melbourne, to that effect, received a cabled reply to-day, in which Major De Haviland states that he cannot recommend,'this type of biplane for the project, but he is writing to Mr. Bailey concerning the matter. The cablegram reads: — “Letter just received. Regret cannot recommend DH9 owing to-ex-cessive risk Tasman flight with any single-engined machine. Thanks inquiry. (Writing.” ,« In referring to Mr. Bailey’s inquiry' when speaking in Melbourne, Major De Haviland said that it was his principle not to supply machines which he thought not absolutely safe for the work they had to do. What was the good of crossing the Tasman? Anyone knew that an aeroplane could cross the Tasman with a certain amount of luck, but that would not prove anything from the aviation point of view. From a commercial aspect it would he necessary to use a big machine, which would prove costly. , The “Argus,” in an editorial, urges the Appointment of a Royal Commission, representing Australia and New Zealand, to investigate the flight of the missing aviators, Lieutenant Moncrieff and Captain Hood.