DESERVED TRIBUTE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 670, 24 October 1933, Page 6

DESERVED TRIBUTE

SMITHY WILL STAND ON HIS MERITS WITHOUT FAVOUR GREETINGS IN SYDNEY Syc'ney, Oct. 15. "I hope the Federal Government realises it can avail itself of the services of the world's greatest airman. It must not waste any oppprtunity of keeping him in Australia." The Lord Mayor (Ald. R. C. Hagon was emphatic in addressing the crowd of 15,000, which gathered at Mascot yesterday to welcome Sir Charles Kingsford S'mith. Throughout the speeehes of Senator Sir C. F. Cox and the AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Manning, interjeetors from every part of the crowd shouted: "What about giving him a job?" In his graceful machine, the Percival Gull, "Smithy" swooped over Mascot on the tick of 4 p.m. More than 40 'planes formed his escort, including his old love, the Southern Cross. The machine in which he broke the record, is painted light blue, and is named Miss Southern Cross. In his reply to the welcome, Sir Charles said he did not ask for favoured treatment from anyone, and was prepared to stand on his merits. He appreciated the wonderful welcome given him. "In Brisbane," he added, laughingly, "I was talked at, laughed at, and even sung at." Crowds Rush Soon after the Miss Southern Cross landed the crowd broke tbr'ougb the police cordon, and, racing across the ground, threatened to overwhelm the machine. A strong body of police intercepted them, however, and sent them back behind the barriers. First to welcome Sir Charles were his mother and other relatives. After the public welcome, the Aero Club entertained the great pilot in the elubhouse.