CENTENARY AIR RACE PROJECTS

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 163, 7 April 1934, Page 6

CENTENARY AIR RACE PROJECTS

Government Aid Unlikely

MATTER NOT YET DEALT WITH BY CABINET

“No consideration has yet been given to the question,” the Prime Minister, Kt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said last evening. when asked if any decision had been reached by the Government in connection with a suggestion that New Zealand should enter a machine for the Melbourne centenary air race.

A committee of business men has been formed in Auckland in an endeavour to arrange for New Zealand representation in the race, and at a meeting about a week ago it was stated that the aero clubs considered it was reasonable to ask the people of New Zealand and the Government for the necessary financial -assistance. Cost of participation in the race was said to be about £lO,OOO. At a subsequent meeting on Thursday it was decided to ask the Minister of Finance. Kt. Hon. J. G. Coates, to make an announcement by next Thursday concerning the attitude of the Government. Although Cabinet has yet. to consider the proposal, inquiries made yesterday in Ministerial circles indicate that the Government does not feel inclined, nor does it feel justified, in using public funds to support such a project, particularly at the preseiii juncture. Little hope was entertained of the Government finding any money for the proposal. and it was generally agreed that any funds available could be put to far better purpose than the financing of an air race. The finances of the country had to be taken into consideration.

NOT IN FAVOUR

Wellington Aero Club’s Decision Wellington Aero Chib support will not be forthcoming for either the equipment of a New Zealand entrant in the Macßo’bertson Air Race or for the suggested air race across the Tasman. This is the reply from the club’s executive to the New Zealand Aero Club, which has acted as a bureau through which the club’s opinions could be gathered. The Wellington club executive, after discussing the question, has come to the conclusion that neither scheme would result in as great a benefit to New Zealand aviation as if the money were spent direct on aviation work in New Zealand. “A chain of landing grounds through the Dominion is at present being surveyed, and £5OOO or £lO,OOO would go quite a long way in assisting those centres that are keen on aviation, but find it hard to raise finance.” one of the club’s executive members remarked yesterday. “The Auckland scheme, for the entry of a New Zealand competitor, appears to be the better of the two, to most members of the executive,” he said, “and everyone must admire the sporting spirit of Messrs. Piper and Kaye in offering to band any prize money they might, win over to the New Zealand Aero Club for the benefit of aviation in the Dominion and also to hand the machine over. “To my mind, the proposal for a ’Tasman air race has some -bad points and few good ones. It would encourage reckless pilots to take the very serious risk of flying across 1200 miles of water in single-engined machines, and it is not going to do New Zealand aviation any good if one or more machines came down in the Tasman.’’ DUNEDIN ATTITUDE No Support for Project By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, April 6. No support for the project of entering a New Zealand competitor in the Centenary Air Race will be given in Dunedin. The Mayor, the Rev. Mr. Cox, stated this morning that the matter had been fully investigated and it had been decided that no action should be taken.