SOUTH ISLAND AIR RACE

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25304, 2 October 1947, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND AIR RACE

PROGRESS LEAGUE OPPOSES PLAN

“ ILL-CONCEIVED AND BADLY TIMED” Opposition to the Canterbury Aero Club’s proposal for a 1000-mile South Island air race was expressed by the president of the Canterbury Progress League (Mr D. W. Westenra) in a report to a meeting of the league last evening. Mr Westenra said he had no doubt that the race would needlessly consume thousands of gallons of valuable petrol and at this juncture he considered it a most ill-conceived and badly timed venture. “The whole community has been asked to assist Britain in her time of financial stress by reducing petrol consumption and thereby saving dollars.” he said. “If it proceeds with its proposal, the club will set a very bad example to the rest of the community, especially motorists and farmers who have been asked to save petrol. We are in great danger of the Government having to step in and again ration petrol. The latest reports snow that the results under the voluntary scheme are disappointing and unless the position improves, the Government would be justified in taking action,” he said. Mr Westenra added that it would be a great pity if, through the untimely action of the club, petrol rationing was hastened. He hoped that wiser counsels would prevail.