BY AIR TO AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 March 1920, Page 6

BY AIR TO AUSTRALIA.

PLENTY OP ASPIRANTS, FINANCE THE DIFFICULTY. Christchurch. March lltli. The possibility of a flight from New Zealand to Australia was discussed in Christchurch lately by a New Zealand flying officer. Apart from the opinion expressed in Australia at a gathering to welcome Sir Arthur Brown, who was navigator to the late Sir John Alcock in the Atlantic flight, it was an opportunity which should be taken by a New Zealander, he said the flight would be easy enough, for the winds in the Tasman Sea were dependable, blowing for two or three days at a time, and there was no variation of the compass as there was in t'he Atlantic flight. The prevailing winds were north-west and south-west, and an airman could get almost a direct following wind from New Zealand. The chief difficulty, he continued, was finance, for an airman would want at least £SOOO before he could get a machine suitable for the flight. He added that the proposal had been made to the New Zealand Government some time ago that a flight to Australia should be undertaken, but the Government would do nothing. If an aviator should undertake the flight, however, the Government slioul subsidise- him, or if a prize were offered by the Australian or New Zealand Governments there would be plenty of New Zealancers ready to essay the flight. Summarising the prospects of a flight, the officer stated that it could be undertaken as a Government venture, or if the Government offered a sufficient prize limiting the contest say to New Zealanders, British manufacturers would be encouraged to take the matter up as in j the case of the Australian flights. ] — , I