Preserving relics

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32677, 5 August 1971, Page 12

Preserving relics

Sir, —I should like to express my sympathy for Mr Norris and die problems facing him with regard to relics and the public attitude to them. Many people speak out for the preservation of such items, but just as many want to make a dollar out of the same items. It is deplorable how many members of our farming community, who have a lot of aviation relics on their properties, prefer to try to raise comparatively large sums of money from voluntary societies such as ours for items which need !careful restoration and com-

bination with parts from other sources to make a finished exhibit. Since the societies cannot afford these sums the items are left to rot and then are gone forever. The action of a local man in buying such items for sale to our American friends also does nothing to alleviate the trying situation. It is about time a lot of New Zealanders got their priorities right with regard to money and historic items.— Yours, etc., DENYS JONES, . Ferrymead Aeronautical Society. August 3, 1971.