TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 386, 21 June 1928, Page 1

TRANS-TASMAN FLIGHT

AUCKLAND SHOULD ACT INVITATION TO SOUTHERN CROSS

ALTHOUGH several towns amt boroughs have extended an invitation to Captain Kingsford Smith and his companions to visit them in the Southern Cross while in New Zealand no invitation has yet been extended from Auckland. The opinion has been expressed to The Sun by airmen that Auckland should also forward an invitation, and if possible, arrangements also made for it to be the hopping-off place on their return flight to Australia. When approached to-day on the , Members of the Auckland Aero Club

subject, the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said that up to the present he had not been approached on the subject by any responsible body, and until that was done, and he was satisfied that i suitable arrangements could be made in regard to a landing place; naturally, he could not invite them. If the question were taken up in the j right quarters and proper arrangements could be made, he would be very pleased to co-operate. He felt quite sure that Auckland citizens would support it whole-heartedly. THEIR HOPPING-OFF PLACE There should really be no reason why Auckland should not invite Captain Kingsford Smith to visit Auck- j land in the Southern Cross, said Mr. Leo Walsh, the well-known Auckland aviator. Owing to the facilities available at Christchurch, where there was a properly marked-out ground, and an airdrome where any necessary repairs or adjustments could be effected, he thought it out of the question to expect the airmen to make their first landing anywhere but at Christchurch. But, said Mr. Walsh, I think it could be easily arranged for them to fly up to Auckland and make that their point of departure on their return flight to Australia. Discussing the question of landingplaces, Mr. Walsh said that, on account of their surroundings, the racecourse and trotting grounds were out of the question, but he thought a suitable area could be obtained in the Mangere district. This could be done, he said, by obtaining permission from the owners of suitable paddocks to remove the fences for the time being so as to permit a low approach, and the ground to be marked out. There were numerous airmen in Auckland from whom every assistance would be forthcoming, and he trusted that the newly-formed Aero Club, to which they looked to for a lead, would give the proposal serious consideration. QUESTION C ARRANGEMENTS Several towns had sent invitations, said Mr. Walsh, but the proposal entailed more than that. Efficient landing arrangements would have to be made, and a plan of the ground forwarded to the airmen. In accept ing any invitations the efficiency of the arrangements made on their behalf naturally would be the deciding factor.

are at present giving the question consideration, said Mr. H. T. Merritt, chairman of the club, and it would be discussed at a committee meeting to be held this evening. Mr. Merritt, who is also president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, said that it was solely a question of suitable arrangements. If these could be made he would certainly like to see Auckland included in the itinerary of the Southern Cross.