Winged Victory

NZ Truth, Issue 1182, 26 July 1928, Page 6

Winged Victory

■I ♦' rTF the Government were asked to assess the value .to the country of Captain Kingsford Smith's Arrival here m the "Southern Cross," it wbuld doubtless strike an ultra-conservative estimate. The Government is built ( or has drifted) that way. And probably for that reason it is going to slide gently bacK again on its political asinine haunches and simply see what happens, ': But either from the commercial "or the, sentimental point of view, a wholesome figure must be set down as the intrinsic worth of a flight across the Tasman. The era of the air has more than dawned. Achievement can-: not help but bring great results, and such practical excursions into relief ' geography draw us/ neater, cement more firmly our -relations, and open the door still, Wjder to commercial, scientific and transit progress.:.:;- • ,■•• y Every effort should*he made by the i New Zealand Government to prevent disaster to this wonderful mission. -....'.'. Ilk -is true that the men now gallantly preparing yto "hop o Ver from '■■■: Sydney, are more, experienced than the late Mon-crieff-Hood duo, who haye ;' jso, tragically fallen into the depths of silence after a brave attempt. This fact alone, only points to a : dilly-dallying, thoughtless, inconsiderate Government, who only played with what, for the sake of tlie country, was a serious : and imperative responsibility. And, although this ' venture across the treacherous Tasman (where climatic .changes switch almost at a moment's notice), i§ not a gigantic "job" by comparison with their recent world-beat-ing flight, every human effort should be made to provide/or the always problematical hitch whilst the men are m the riir and over ocean waters. •....»