GREAT AIR RACE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21454, 30 March 1933, Page 9

GREAT AIR RACE

PRIZE OF £IO,OOO

LONDON TO MELBOURNE GIFT BY AUSTRALIAN CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS By Telegraph—Preßs Association—Copyright (Keceivcd March 29, 11.35 p.m.) MELBOURNE, March 2D* A cheque for £IO.OOO as a prize for an international air race from London to Melbourne 111 October, 1934, was handed to tho Lord Mayor of Melbourne to-day by Sir Macpherson Robertson, whose desire it is to mark the centenary celebrations of Melbourne. Ilie Lord Mayor, in acknowledging the gift, said it would bo tho greatest air race in the history of aviation. It would bring together tho makers of all kinds of aircraft, and probably tho world's outstanding airmen. The! gift has aroused considerable interest in aviation circles in Australia. It is described as tho best news civil aviation has received since tho Commonwealth Government offered a prize for a pioneer - ing flight from England to Australia, won by Sir Boss and Sir Keith Smith in 1919. It is understood tho race will not bo hedged by any difficult conditions. All makes and sizes of machines may compete, but they must follow a prescribed route. The first machine to reach Melbourne will receive tho rich prize. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith stated tonight that ho was not likely to take part in tho race, but 110 hoped aviators inclined to do so would look carefully into tho risks.

Sir Macpherson Robertson is the founder and proprietor of " Macßobertson's," manufacturers of confectionery and of confectionery and chocolate-making machinery. The headquarters of tho firm is at Fitzroy, Melbourne, and there aro branches in all the capital cities of tho Commonwealth. Ho is also a director of many other well-known manufacturing enterprises in Australia, Sir Macpherson was born in Ballarat, Victoria, in 1859. As a lad he went to Scotland for a number of years and returned to Australia in 1875. Ho served his apprenticeship in the confectionery trade in Melbourne, after which 110 worked as an employee. Later ho established his present confectionery business, starting in a small way. The firm now employs more than 2000 hands. In 1928 110 refused £2,500,000 for the business.