OPINIONS VARY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 445, 1 February 1933, Page 5

OPINIONS VARY

(Press. Assn.—

DISPUTE ABOUT REMOVAL OF WRECKED 'PLANE READING OF THE LAW

-By Telegraph — C a oyngnt).

Hawera, Tuesday. Commenting on the statement made yesterday by the coroner, Mr. R. S. Sage, that the removal of the 'plane wrecked in the crash at Pihama on Sunday was in contravention of the Air Navigation Act, Mr. W. G. Walkleyj secretary of the Hawera Aero Club, said that the club had been le~ gally advised that it was within its i rights in dismantling and removing the 'plane. The Act, he said, did not prohibit such removal. It merely said that an Order-in-Council may be made to that effect, but no regulation had been made. It was imperative, proceeded Mr. Walkley, that a wrecked machine should be dismantled and removed to a place of safety, as invariably souvenir hunters collected valuable parts and as a largs quantity of petrol usully escaped there was always danger of fire. In the case in question scores of people visited the scene very shortly after the accident and the club's desire was to prevent possible pilfering. j The matter was referred to Mr. Sage, who stated that the Act made it clear that a fine of £50, or three months imprisonment could be imposed for the removal of a 'plane 1 after an accident without authority, and although no regulation to that effect had heen issued, the Act left no doubt in his mind regarding its intention.