NEW LAND SPEED RECORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 September 1935, Page 4

NEW LAND SPEED RECORD.

Sir Malcolm Campbell’s success in creating a new world’s land speed record will be appreciated throughout the Empire. It upholds, as Lord Wakefield said in his message of congratulation to Sir Malcolm, “the high reputation of British engineering” as well as the reputation for personal skill and courage Sir Malcolm Campbell had already gained, On the surface such undertakings may appear of little service to mankind. But the history of civilisation is full of instances in which progress in mechanics and in other sciences has been stimulated by bold experiment and by tests which carried with them a large element of danger for those responsible for going further than had hitherto been attempted. For that reason such tests as those Sir Malcolm has made should serve the purpose of improving the design and construction of mechanical appliances for the service of mankind. It is not suggested that for practical purposes motor vehicles capable of travelling 300 miles an hour are necessary or desirable. But the accomplishment of such a speed is sure to carry with it information upon which further research can be made for the benefit of humanity, to whom the age of mechanism has opened so many new avenues of progress. British engineering was noted for its high quality of design and workmanship all through the era in which steam ruled the mechanical world as the principal motive power. Sir Malcolm Campbell’s feat has demonstrated the same qualities in machines designed for later conditions and services, and proves that Great Britain continues to hold her position of leadei’ in modern mechanics. She now holds the speed records for travel on land and in the air, and it seems likely that when the steamer Queen Mary is in commission the record for travel by sea will also return to a British vessel.