AIR RACE PROPOSAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19140, 8 October 1936, Page 16

AIR RACE PROPOSAL

NUCLEUS OF PRIZE FUND OFFER TO INCREASE GIFT An undertaking substantially to in crease his offer should the necessity arise, has been given by the Napier business man who already has announced his willingness to give £SCO as the nucleus of a Jb!SCOO prize fund for the proposed Sydney to Napier air race in January. "Means of raising the necessary, finance for the venture have been discussed, and although no details are divulged, it is understood that an early start is to be made with the canvassing of individual citizens, local bodies, and citizens organisations. The Napier Thvrtj Thousand Club is entering enthusiastically into the promotion of the scheme with the object.of obtaining the required funds within the shortest possible period. The sponsor of the scheme is lending his fullest support in this connection. Asked lor'his reason in advancing the suggestion for an international air race from Australia to Napier, the sponsor said that his principal desire was to encourage aviation in New Zealand and to bring this important link in national defence and commercial development to the prominence it deserved. The suggestion has been put forward that Miss Jean Batten, who is at present flying from England to New Zealand, might be a competitor in the Tasman air race. Miss Batten's Percival Gull monoplane, in which she made her flight over the Atlantic, has now been fitted with extra petrol accommodation and given a range of 1300 miles.