GREAT AIR RACES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 14

GREAT AIR RACES

LONDON TO MELBOURNE DOMINION ENTRY URGED WORK OF LOCAL COMMITTEE The advantages to be gained by New Zealand being represented in the .Melbourne Centenary air races were stressed by speakers at a meeting of Auckland business men on Thursday. The meeting formed itself into a committee, with power to add to its numbers, to investigate the possibility of raising funds to have a Dominion entry in the race. , Those present were Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who presided, Messrs. Spencer R. Mason, T. Lamont, C. E. Kay, P. Gumming, P. B. Ross, D. Mill, H. G. R. Mason, M.P., and S. W. House. Apologies for absence were received from the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, and a, number of prominent citizens. Opinions differed concerning which of, the two races it would be preferable to enter. Mr. Lamont advocated support being given to an entrant for the speed contest, for which the first prize was £IO,OOO and a gold cup valued at not less than £500.Mr. S. R. Mason said the question arose whether New Zealand could hope to compete in the speed event, and at an earlier meeting it had been considered better to concentrate on the handicap race. Americans had claimed that they could win with a stock machine, and this had naturally put the rest of the world on its mettle.. Highlyskilled technicians, of whom there were none in New Zealand, were working on expensive designs, and it was doubtful whether the Dominion could procure a suitable machine, even if the necessary funds were raised. Mr. Mason said the Rt. Hon, J. G, Coates had been approached unofficially on the matter of funds. He understood Mr. Coates had put the matter before tho Cabinet. When interviewed tho Minister had been very enthusiastic about, the scheme. It was unfortunate that none of the other aero clubs in New Zealand had taken up the schema put before them after a meeting in Auckland some weeks ago. Estimates as to the cost of entering a machine varied according to the type to be used, but it was agreed that £IO,OOO woiild cover all expenses. The aero club was satisfied that it was reasonable to ask the, people of New Zealand and the Government for the necessary financial assistance, Mr. Mason added. An outstanding achievement by a Dominion entrant in either of the .two races would give a great; stimulus to aviation in a country where it was admittedly backward. Mr. Allum said the Government should find half the cost, the remainder, to be subscribed by people who could afford to give and were willing to do so. It would be a good idea to ask the Government to subsidise at the rate of pound for pound any amount raised. The meeting decided unanimously. >thafc New Zealand should be represented. It was arranged to endeavour to ascertain from the Minister of Finance the attitude of the Government toward the proposal, and also to communicate with the Mayors of tho cities of the. -Dominion and the editors of,the metropolitan newspapers asking whether they would be willing to open subscription lists.

INTEREST IN EVENT SIR C. KINGSFORD SMITH r SEARCH FOR A MACHINE; The hope »that New Zealand would 'be represented in the Melbourne Centenary air race was expressed by.Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, in the course of a message to tho people of the Dominion on the eve of his transtasmrin flight in the Southern .Cross.. ''The kindliness with which.. I have always been .received by the .people of New Zealand has caused me to regard the Dominion as my second . home," said Sir Charles. "I would like to.see New Zealand represented in the Centenary race; in fact, I will he deeply disappointed if there is no New Zealand entrant. But you can tell the selected pilot from me that I intend to make him work hard on that, trip," he added, when he referred to his own plans. , . ' Sir Charles said he proposed to have a few months' rest on his return, to Australia and expected to leave for America early in July. He would inspect several makes of machines there and would then proceed to England for a similar purpose. He would make his final choice of the machine he would fly in the Centenary race after he had seen the machines of both countries. Sir Charles said there was no apparent reason why the Dominion should -not be represented. "I cannot hut appreciate the strides in aviation made in New Zealand in the last year," he said. He was particularly pleased to notice that a scheme was under way to establish regular mail and-passenger services in New Zealand.