24-9 - 93 • All six rounds of the summer motor racing series, including Baypark and Teretonga, will fall under the banner of the Peter Jackson Series. Only the Wigram, Manfeild, and Pukekohe rounds, though, are scheduled to host the new Atlantic- Brabham single-seater mix. An announcement will soon be made about the Formula Brabham contingent likely to contest the races. 1 - 10-93 • The dates fo two national Mini have been settled. Peter Jackson Seri on January 16, Pukekohe on Janu or the coming season's 7 championship rounds . Both coincide with the ies, the first at Wigram and the second at nary 30. 9-10-93 Govt blocks moves to sell W by Dave Wilson The Cabinet has intervened to block Defence plans to sell Wigram air base, until a task force studies options for civilian use of the base. The Government's intervention, announced yesterday by the MP for Selwyn, Miss Ruth Richardson, came as the Christchurch City Council heard its long-term leasing proposal had been rejected. The Defence Force also reaffirmed its intention to sell the base for the best price, as soon as possible after Wigram closes in December 1995. Defence's disposal procedures, although in line with Government policy for disposing of redundant bases, were being overridden in the case of Wigram, Miss Richardson said. She has set up an informal task force of business and local government officials with a request to study options for Wigram's future. No preemptive steps for the disposal of the base will be taken until the task force has completed its studies and reported to the Government. The news was hailed by the co-chairman of the council's Wigram sub-committee, Cr Morgan Fahey, as a victory in the Canterbury fight to save the base. It gave the breathing space needed to assess options, for civilian aviation, recreation, and commercial uses, he said. The Labour member of Parliament for Yaidhurst, Mrs Marg- igram aret Austin, greeted the Cabinet announcement with mixed feelings, saying her initial reaction was relief the Government had chosen to intervene. However, she questioned Miss Richardson's motives so close to the General Election. The intervention was "really politicking" when the council already had its own task force undertaking feasibility studies. "She should be reminded that this debacle is entirely her responsibility for so drastically cutting funding at the time of the 1991 Budget." Mrs Austin said she was relieved "that we have at least got breathing space in view of the intensity of the work which has been done during the course of this year to try to get a sensible resolution". Miss Richardson's announcement took the council and Defence by surprise, neither party being aware of the Government's intervention until advised of it by "The Press" Miss Richardson said the Ministers of Defence, Mr Cooper, and Lands, Mr Storey, would be involved in the task force's study. She said the Government would not move on Wigram's future without consulting the task force. The Defence uses designation on Wigram would stay in place at least until the base was vacated, in 1995. Government blocks moves to sell Wigram air base FROM PAGE 1 Defence and the Office of Crown Lands have already begun preliminary work on disposing of the base, but Miss Richardson said Mr Storey would ensure there was no further advertising of disposal options. Earlier yesterday Cr Fahey said unless Defence retained the base and leased it to local interests, the o cedures meant there likely claimants for Wigram's new $4.5 was pessimistic at t. official disposal pro e were 29 identified the land, including million runway. He the chances of using the runway it wigrane had to negotiate landowners. In a letter to the Ci Captain Ross Marbeck, s future operators ith 29 different ity Council, Group writing on behalf of the Chief of Defence Force, said a longterm leasing arrangement was counter to the NZDF"s objectives, to reduce operating costs and sell the redundant bases. Proceeds from the sale of Wigram would be used as capital funding of other projects. However, Defence sources indicated the money was needed to help pay for the Air Force's $34.5 million costs in relocating Wigram's functions to Woodbourne. Group Captain Marbeck said while the decision to close Wigram was not taken lightly, the NDF was now committed to implementing it without undue delay. A senior Defence source said there was a Government direction that surplus Defence land be disposed of. Defence could not waver from this, unless under Government direction.