APPEAL MADE FOR £20,000

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1934, Page 7

APPEAL MADE FOR £20,000

ENTRY IN CENTENARY AIR RACE. PIONEER AIRMAN’S PROPOSAL. ■ - / 7 ■■ By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night * A parting appeal to the people of New Zealand to raise £20,000 to ensure a New Zealand entrant in the air race from England to Melbourne and to attract competitors in that event to fly to New Zealand subsequently was made by Sir Walter Windham, pioneer English airman, prior to his departure for Vancouver to-day.

“This is the accepted time for New Zealand to take action,” said Sir Walter. “The sum of £20,000 should be easily, raised. I only wish I could stay inNew Zealand a week or so longer to assist in launching the appeal. I would suggest that all newspapers open subscription lists in order to ’ make the X scheme as national and widespread as possible.”

In estimating that £20,000 - would be necessary for the purpose he envisioned, Sir Walter said, a suitable machine would probably cost £12,000. He suggested an additional £2OOO should be offered as an inducement for competitors in the big speed race to engage in a further race to New Zealand a week or ten days after the arrival at Melbourne. The balance of the amount would be required to meet the expenses of sending two New Zealand airmen to Britain to equip the machine and to meet petrol and incidental costs. Sir Walter said he had discussed the scheme with several others interested at Auckland and one tentative offer to donate £5OO toward the proposed fund had been made.