TASMAN AIR RACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19141, 9 October 1936, Page 2

TASMAN AIR RACE

MINISTER DISAPPROVES NO GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY CHECK TO NAPIER SCHEME The Minister of Defence, tho Hon. F. Jones, does not approve of the proposed trans-Tasman air race from Sydney to Napier and is unable to recommend that, the Government grant a subsidy for the event. This information was received by the Napier Thirty-Thousand Club from tho member for Napier, Mr. W. h. Barnard, in reply to the clubs request for a. subsidy. Mr Barnard informed the club tbathe had had a further discussion with the Minister of Defence, who did not consider it advisable to encourage such races across the. Tasman. The donor of the £SCO prize money is at present away from Napier and will be absent for some days. Further moves in the project cannot be expected until his return. He was informed o the position before he lelfc and stated that he had been aware that the Government might not grant a- subsidy and had determined to continue lus efforts to raise the remaining prizemoney. He had not anticipated, however that the Minister would disapprove of the race and would have to consider the position further. Conflicting opinions have been expressed in regard to the proposal since the first announcement- was made some tune ago While pilots at Mascot Aerodrome, Sydney, are reported to consider the race quite ' feasible other people have expressed their disapproval of the idea. . A campaign toward raising the necessary funds lhas been 'but until the Thirty-Thousand Club confers further with the principal donor, no announcement will be made regarding the race.. ,