GIFT AEROPLANE SUGGESTED

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 4

GIFT AEROPLANE SUGGESTED

LONDON-MELBOURNE CONTEST SIR CHARLES KINGSFOKDSMITH'S ENTRY ',rRF.3S ASSOCIATION TILEGRA.M.) WELLINGTON, February 12. A proposal to link New Zealand with Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith's entry in the London-Melbourne air race at the end of the year is being actively discussed at New Plymouth. The idea is to invite public subscriptions to an aeroplane purchase fund in the hope that Sir Charles's machine may be a gift from the people of Australia and New Zealand. Mr J. McLeod. Government representative on the New Plymouth Airport Board, states that he is glad to see the attention that has been focused on the big race by the Canterbury suggestion that another be organised from Melbourne to Christchurch in the hope that all or most of the competitors reaching Melbourne may be induced to come on to New Zealand. Mr McLeod has serious doubts, however, if this plan could be carried through for there is an undoubted risk in flying in single-handed machines over the stormy Tasman. "Recognising this risk," he says, "a suggestion is being considered in New Plymouth of raising a reasonable sum in New to assist a competitor for London-Melbourne honours. It is understood that Sir Charles intends to compete in the event with his trusted navigator, Captain Taylor, and, while Sir Charles is an Australian, it goes without saying that no one has done a tithe of the pioneering of New Zealand's air sense that he had done, and his success in the venture would be as enthusiastically acclaimed in this country as in his native land." |TRANS TASMAN PROPOSAL | j AH'UOVAI. EXI'IiESSEI) ! J in . i'-ciuikjs in.r.iiiUM.) ! IiOTOKUA. February 12. The opinion that the proposed Tasman Sea air race would give a big lift to the progress of aviation in New Zealand and that Christchurch would make an ideal finishing point was expressed here by Sir Charles KingsfordSmith. who was interviewed before his departure to join the Lurlino en route for Sydney. The proposal emanating from Christchurch that a £SOOO prize should be offered for an air race across the Tasman to New Zealand following the Melbourne Centenary race was well worth consideration, he said. With the fast machines which would be used in the Centenary race the crossing of the Tasman could be made in six hours. He considered that the landing facilities at Christchurch would make it ideal as a finishing point. The feature of the suggested race which did not appeal to nim was the fact that singlc-engincd aeroplanes would be used. As he had stated previously, he was absolutely opposed to the use of machines of this type in flights over wide stretches of ocean. Asked whether he would compete in the race, he said that he had not yet I considered the matter, but he would certainly be coming to New Zealand after the Centenary race. He had not yet decided whether he would fly his machine or ship it from Australia.