More Delay Ik Rose Bay

Flying-Boat Case

SYDNEY, December 7.

THE managing-director of Trans Oceanic Airways, Mr. Bryan Wills Monkton, who was brought before the Central Court here, on October 12, on a charge of malicious damage to a Catalina flying boat at Rose Bay, and remanded to De cember 7, was further remanded to-day to February 7. Application for remand was made by the Police Prosecutor on the grounds that a Crown witness, whose name he refused to divulge, would not be available until then.

The charge against Monkton arose out of an incident on the night of August 27, when a Qantas flying-boat, lying at Rose Bay, Sydney, was destroyed by fire fol lowing a mysterious explosion. Investi gation showed that a crude time-bomb had been used.

When Monkton appeared before the Central Court to-day he was accompanied by his solicitor, Mr. E. Murray Robson, MLA. Mr. Robson asked for the name of the Crown Witness in view of his client’s six years of service in the RAAF and the respect in which he was held in aviation circles in Australia. He said that it was thought that the witness in question was a former employee of TOA who was dis charged in circumstances amounting al most to dishonesty and that it was felt that he would not return to the jurisdic tion of the Court. His request was refused.

Mr. Robson said that Mr. J. W. Shand, KC, had been retained for the defence.