WHY NOT AUCKLAND?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 376, 9 June 1928, Page 1

WHY NOT AUCKLAND?

WHEN PLANE CROSSES TASMAN

SMITH’S PLANS FOR FLIGHT

A suggestion has been advanced in Auckland that if Captain Kingsford Smith executes his intention of bringing the Southern Cross over the Tasman to New Zealand, he should make Auckland his landing spot rather than Christchurch. There is much to be said for this contention. It was stated in The Sun’s special message yesterday that Captain Smith’s intention was to land the airplane at Wigram Airdrome, Christchurch, and to bring to New Zealand with him Mr. S. F. Napper, a Christchurch resident, thus sharing the honours of the transTasman flight between Australia and the Dominion.

Aucklanders ask: Why land at Christchurch, when there are perfectly good facilities for reception here? It is true, Auckland has the population and could do justice to the celebration of such an event, while a glance at the map is sufficient to impress upon one the advantage in distance from Brisbane to Auckland in comparison with the line from Brisbane to the Cathedral City. The most convincing argument in favour of a landing at Auckland, and one which was advanced in all seriousness by an Aucklander, is that in crossing to Christchurch, the armen would have to top the Southern Alps, and incidentally suffer the intense cold which would be encountered. Coming as they have mainly through tropical climes, the flyers, it is suggested, would find the ordeal particularly severe. The suggestion to bring the Southern Cross direct to Auckland doubtless will meet with spirited opposition in the South, but as the flight would be one of Dominion-wide importance and of national interest, the most congenial and the most convenient arrangements probably will be made to ensure the success of the venture.