LES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES

Taupo Times, Volume III, Issue 114, 2 April 1954, Page 4

LES SOUCOUPES VOLANTES

DESPITE the steady growth of Taupo's population in recent years ' there is one matter in which the town is somewhat behind the times. • No one in Taupo has yet reported seeing a flying saucer. In view of the fact that a Nelson man, as reported in the daily press, saw a typical sample of "the strange things seen in the sky" &t 10.40 a.m. on Thursday of last week, this is most regrettable. But judging from the number of continuing appearances of le soucope voiantes, the "flying saucers," in various places, the matter may be rectified before long. We may have difficulty in accepting the more ornamental stories from the United States, but some of the "penny plain" versions are interesting enough. A recent report by a veteran Australian National Airways pilot of a metallic mush-room shaped object flying at high speed over the Yarra Valley in daylight is an example that brings the subject nearer home. The statement of the Australian Civil Aviation Department that "we do not regard this business as a joke," with its invitation to the public to report "unidentified aerial objects" without fear of ridicule indicates a certain recognition of the incompleteness of our knowledge of the skies. The explanations of "flying saucers" given by some scientific experts cover a considerable range. They have been said to be small specks of dust before the eyes, ion-

ised air, un-ionised air, mass hysteria. "Sex," say some psychiatrists. It was to be expected that sex would creep into it sooner or later. And lastly, Professor Kukarkin, of Moscow, states that "they are a case of pure war-mongering psychosis." Meantime, a retired farmer in Nelson, an out-door man whose hobby has been deer-stalking, reports seeing last week in broad daylight an object which moved in the sky at tremendous speed, made a complete circle, and was also seen by his wife and daughter-in-law. The advice given to the public in regard to such things by the Astronomer-Royal not long ago namely "Forget all about them," would seem to be somewhat inadequate. The action of six members of the Astronomical Society of Victoria, in setting up recently a committee to study such reports, seems rather m,ore practical, and more in line with that insatiable curiosity of the human mind is the main motive power of scientific research. Whatever the final explanation of the "flying saucers" may be there is no doubt that the subject is one that refuses to be ignored, Despite the scepticism of some eminent experts, learned inquiries go on. And the layman may well wonder what is behind this strange and baffling mystery of the atomic era. In any case, don't be worried if you see flying saucers, They're probably more real than pink elephants.