Sir Ross Smith was killed instantaneously.
Sgt Bennett died two minutes later.
The defect in the machine which caused the accident is unexplainable at present.
Half an hour before the fatal flight Captain Cockerall, of the Vickers Company, had successfully flown the machine for 30 minutes, then handing it over to Sir Ross Smith.
Sir Keith Smith intended joining in the trial flight, but arrived at the aerodrome too late to participate.
He, however, was present to witness the crash. When the machine fell Sir Keith was one of the first to arrive, and saw his brother removed from the machine to the track.
Anzac Day observance too strict?
It is as well, perhaps, as the month draws on, that the public should be reminded that under statutory enactment of the last session, an alteration has been brought about bearing on the manner of the observance of Anzac Day.
The anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, April 25, is henceforth to be observed in all respects as if Anzac Day were a Sunday.
During the session of 1920 a bill was introduced containing provision to the same effect, but the Government considered it advisable to make a modification, on the ground that it was not quite clear as to how far any universal public demand existed for a very close observance of the anniversary.
Apparently it was actuated by the reflection that if the endeavour was made to secure the strict observance of Anzac Day it might produce a reaction, and defeat the very purpose which the returned soldiers had in view in promoting the Bill.
So the legislation of 1920 simply proclaimed Anzac Day a public holiday, and decreed that licensed premises should be closed, and that no race meetings should be held on the date in question.
The Minister introducing the measure of last session told us that the experience of the first observance of Anzac Day and of the provisions of the Act of 1920
was that a great deal of dissatisfaction arose, due to the fact that, while the public houses were closed, the picture theatres were open, while many
other difficulties arose in connection with the proper observance of the day.
Experience will very shortly test the merits of the new piece of legislation.
In the meantime, our own inclination is to regard it as an experiment of dubious wisdom.
Regulations governing the observance of the Sabbath day in New Zealand are fairly strict, and immensely circumscribe the activities of the people, or at least the avenues through which the activity can be exerted.
It is eminently desirable that the people of New Zealand should participate in a commemoration of Anzac worthy of all that is symbolised in this imperishable name, but to endeavour to render an anniversary “sacred” by Act of Parliament is to go too far.
he attitude and spirit due to such an occasion as Anzac Day will not be stimulated in the public, if any stimulus be needed, by enforced inactivity. It would be unfortunate indeed were such an anniversary to become associated with stupidity and boredom. — Editorial
— ODT, 15.4.1922
