AMY JOHNSON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 141, 17 June 1930, Page 7

AMY JOHNSON.

MESSAGE TO DOMINION "Just an Ordinary Girl" Disturbed by Idolatry. "HOW I PITY THE PRINCE." (Exclusive to "Star."—From. Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, June 13. While all Australia, and Sydney in particular, has gone Amy Johnson crazy, the object of their idolatry, a quiet, unassuming girl, is putting up a brave fight to master and control the tremendous wave of fame -that has suddenly swooped upon her. Hundreds of letters, telegrams, parcels, invitations and presents have been showered on her. It has been impossible for her to thank everybody individually in the Avay she would like to do. Miss Johnson was having a cup of tea at Government House with Lady Game when the "Star's" representative called on her. She immediately came out to the and expressed her pleasure at being given the chance to send a personal message to New Zealand. ■ "Why, the time I've had!" she said, smiling. "The flight was only child's play compared to the receptions, the speeches, the crowds, the presents, and the go, go, all .the time. Really, I wonder how I have kept it up, and how much longer I can keep it up. I'm not used to it, you know!" Miss Johnson sat down. She was looking very tired and worn out. "Never Wanted Publicity." "I don't want you to think I am' ungrateful," she said, "or that I don't appreciate everything that has been done for me. I think it is wonderf and that everybody has been wonderful. I love the Australian people for the way they have shown their appreciation, and the New Zealand people for their gifts and good wishes. I am very disappointed that I cannot go to New Zealand, but there you are." She stopped and siglied' and gave , a little laugh. "I'm only-me, you know —and, my heavens, how I pity the Prince of Wales! "I would love to have come here',just as an ordinary girl, so that I could travel over Australia and Tasmania, and then take a trip to New Zealand without any publicity. I don't want it, and I never did want it; but still, if it is going to further the interests of civil aviation, it will be well worth it."

Miss Johnson paused and sat looking at her hands in her lap for a few moments. She; seemed to hesitate, and then said: "I don't feel that it is right, somehow, though of course I appreciate it all and am grateful, but there is such a lot of poverty and unemployment everywhere,, especially here in Sydney. There must be many people, young girls, too, facing more terrible things than I ever had to face on my flight, and. nobody -/will know or care anything about them;, yet here am I, so overloaded with gifts that I simply cannot take them all away -with me. It seems distorted, somehow. > . ' The Spirit of Adventure. "If to give the women and girls of New Zealand a message for me, tell them that I am just an ordinary girl, and that my message to them and everyone else is to keep going, ,no matter how black things look or what turns up. That seems to be the moral lesson to be gained from my flight. There were times when it seemed impossible for me to win through, but I went on, mainly, I suppose, because I had to, and with the result that I did win through. . / "It was the spirit of adventure and fun that made me take the trip out here. I was sure, too, that it, was not going to be quite as hard as it was. "So to the women of New Zealand, and the men and boys, too, keep flying on! Have your aim always in sight, but never near enough to reach. The rainbow's end looks very nice from the distance, biit it is not a good place to be. " "I Shall Not Retire." "I am going to keep flying when I get back to England. Many people imagine I slia-11 disappear and retire, or rest on my laurels That would be silly! I shall tour the world, perhaps, and lecture, and make my career the furthering and fostering of the interests of civil aviation. "I ,anv sorry I cannot go to New Zealand this time, not because I want more presents and receptions —I feel I have had more than I deserve already — but because I have heard what a beautiful place it is and how charming are the people. Perhaps I will go there some day; but then it will bo different, and I shall be able to walk about the streets and look at the shops and things like an ordinary girl."