AIR RACE PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21466, 13 April 1933, Page 11

AIR RACE PLAN

GENEROUS DONOR INCREASED PRIZE-MONEY READY TO GIVE £15,000 ' SUGGESTED DISTRIBUTION NUMBER OF AWARDS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received April I'2, 8.25 p.m.) MELBOURNE. April 12 Sir Macphcrson Robertson, who recently offered a prize of £IO,OOO for an air race from London to Melbourne, has offered to increase the prize-money to £15,000. The donor suggests that a first prize of £IO,OOO be awarded to the competitor who wins, together with a gold cup, £ISOO to the second and £SOO to the third. Also Sir Macpherson suggests a prize of £2OOO for the most meritorious flight having regard to the power and size of the craft. Other minor prizes are planned, also a special gold medal for every pilot who completes the course. A cheque for £IO,OOO as a prize for an international air race from London to Melbourne in October, 1934, was handed to the Lord Mayor of Melbourne on March 29 by Sir Macpherson Robertson, whose desire it is to mark the centenary celebrations of Melbourne. The gift aroused considerable interest in aviation circles in Australia. It was described as the best news civil aviation had received since the Commonwealth Government gave a prize for a pioneering flight from England to Australia, which was won by Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, who first announced that he was not likely to be a competitor, has since expressed a desire to pilot a Lockhead Orion, with a Wright Cyclone 650 horse-power engine, with a cruising speed of 230 miles an hour. There is disappointment in some quarters that Australia's greatest flier should show preference for an American machine, "and it is hoped that a British company will see its way clear to make liim an offer. Sir Charles ] expects that Captain Hawkes will pilot an American Narthrop Gamma, which has a maximum speed of 280 miles an hour. The race is being discussed by Australian Air Force men as_ well as by civil airmen, because this is one of the few big events in which the Air Force pilots, naval and military, are at liberty to compete. It is considered likelv that members of the Air Forces of Britain. America, Italy, France, and possibly Russia will compote. The Soviet is'believed to have a remarkable engine of its own which it is anxious to test against the rest of-the world. The conditions of the race will ne as simple as possible so that there will be no hindrance to foreign nations. So far Sir Macpherson Robertson has stipulated a simultaneous start from London and that a set course should be followed. Authorities agree that Mr. Mollison's course, taken by him during his record-breaking effort, would be most suitable. The landing grounds for cheeking purposes would be at London, Bagdad. Singapore and Darwin. Sir Macpherson Robertson is perhaps the most remarkable man in the history of industrial enterprise in the Commonwealth. The story of the origin of his confectionery business, with a nailcan and a tin pannikin, which cost 9d, as his comnlete plant, is widely known. Since 1880 he has built from that a huge confectionery manufactory, of which he remains the sole owner, and for which on one occasion he refused an offer of £2,500,000 cash. On manv occasions he has made huge public gifts, principally in Christmas charity. His interest in polar exploration prompted him to offer a gift of £IO.OOO, which made ; possible the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic, expedition, led bj: Sir Douglas Mawson, in 1929. To enable the expedition to complete its researches in*the following year lie guaranteed £6OOO in addition to his first gift. In his honour Sir Douglas Mawson gave the name Mac Robertson Land to the new regions he discovered to the east of Kemp Land, on the Antartic continent. Sir Macpherson also financed an exploring expedition by motor-vehicles, which completed the circuit of Australia in 1928. His public benefactions in recent years have amounted to more than £IOO,OOO, and it is believed that he has given away a very largo sum in addition in private gift's.