Auckland Prepares Welcome for Flyers

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 460, 15 September 1928, Page 1

Auckland Prepares Welcome for Flyers

DINNER AND DANCES TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR LANDING Arrangements for the welcome to Auckland of the Tasman flyers and their subsequent; entertainment are well in hand. The programme, as far as it can be stated at present, is as follows: Tuesday: 3 p.m.—Flyers arrive in three Bristol fighters at the Aero Club’s grounds at Ihumata, welcome by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, Aero Club and others, to follow immediately. Wednesday: Noon.—Civic reception at Town Hall. Evening.—Dinner to be given by the Aero Club president, vicepresidents at Grand Hotel, followed by a cabaret party at Dixieland. Thursday: Leave for Rotorua. Saturday: Aero Club’s invitation ball at Town Hall, Auckland. WELCOME AT LANDING This morning the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, Police Superintendent Wohlmann, Inspector Mcllveney, and Mr. G. R. Hogan, chief traffic inspector, visited the Aero Club’s ground-s and decided on the arrangements for controlling traffic. All traffic will be controlled by the City Traffic Department acting in conjunction with inspectors of the Manukau County. Only official cars will be allowed into the airdrome, where a road is being specially constructed, and all others will be directed into parking areas where there is ample space if the weather is dry. Alongside the airdrome is a rise, and this will accommodate most of the spectators and will give a better view of the landing than from the airdrome itself. The grounds and fences, will be patrolled by mounted policemen and cavalrymen supplied by the Defence Department. AERO CLUB’S ARRANGEMENTS The Auckland Aero Club has left all traffic arrangement to the City Council and police, and will issue the official passes.

Following the Mayor’s welcome, Mr. Robert Burns, president of the club will welcome the flyers to Auckland, and will be supported by the chairman of the executive, Mr. H. T. Merritt, club captain, Major Keith Cad well, and members of the committee. At a meeting this morning the club decided to admit the public to the airdrome, and to make no charge. The public will be expected to obey instructions, and to keep the landing grounds clear. After landing the Bristol fighters will be roped off, and the flyers, led by Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith and Flight-Lieutenant Ulm will be welcomed, after which they will be motored to the Grand Hotel, and will have Tuesday evening free to recover from their trip. Apart from the official functions on Wednesday, there is a possibility of the visitors meeting the Aero Club members at morning tea, and at some stage they will probably visit the Government airdrome at Hobsonville. Arrangements for the Aero Club Ball were also further advanced this morning, and a sub-committee was appointed to meet members of the Victoria League at the Chamber of Commerce at 10.30 a.m. on Monday. HALF-HOLIDAY QUESTION The Mayor, Mr. Baildon, favours declaring a half-holiday for Tuesday, but whether shopkeepers will be requested to close down will be decided on Monday morning. The A.A.A. is to-day sign-boarding the route to the Ihumata landing grounds, which are six miles from the Onehunga Bridge. r After passing the bridge on Tuesday, Auckland motorists will find the road to the airdrome, clearly marked out. j