"WIZARD" SMITH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 114, 6 January 1932, Page 4

"WIZARD" SMITH

The naive way in which leading representative citizens of Auckland's Far North have gone straight to the point in' discussing the forthcoming attempt of Mr. Norman ("Wizard- ) Smith to capture from Sir Malcolm Campbell the World' s 'land speed record, and have stressed the publicity value of the undertaking is both engaging and so'mehow, a little pathetic. That the selection of the Ninety-Mile Beach for Mr. Smith's attempt is of very great publicity value to the Domihioh bs *a whoM is obvious. This value, however, will hardly be of the kind visualised by' the gentlemen who enthused over the "wonderful publicity it is giving our Northland all over the civilised world." To illustrate the point, it may be asked, v/hat do they know of Daytona who only Ahipara know. Probably nothing more thari that it is in America and possesses a beach. No, the publicity value- of Mr .Smith's attempt will lie chiefly in the fact that it- will result in millions of people all over the world learning that there is such a place as New Zealand, and perhaps even something about it beyond the fact that it possesses a beach, and that out of" those millions the interest or curiosity of some thousands may perhaps be sufficiently stirred to induce them sooner or later to increase their knowledge to the extent 'of making personal acquaintance with the country itself, or at least with its products. But merely to welcome Mr Smith because of soihe fancibd material gain to ourselves would be the act of a ohuri- and- of this neither the Northland's spokesmen nor any other New Ze'alander would be guilty. He is welcomed as all true sportsmen are welcomed, with admiration for his skill and courage and particularly because, should he succeed, he will retain for the'Empife and at the same time bring to the two southern Dominions one of I the bright jewels in the world's triple speed crown now worn by | England.