CONGRATULATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 247, 17 October 1936, Page 10

CONGRATULATIONS

"BEATEN THE BIRDS." i PARLIAMENT'S TRIBUTE. «' 'a" -—'—i' ■ i PILOT'S SKItX AND ' i {By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Before the House of Kepresentatives rose for the week-end adjournment today the congratulations of Parliament were extended to Miss Jean Batten, the Prime Minister, Mr. Savage,. rising' a few minutes after, .her arrival wag reported and paying an unqualified tribute .to her performance, He was followed by the. Leader of the Opposiiton, Mr. Forbes. Mr. Savage said : tliat before the House adjourned he thought- members would unite with him in suggesting that they extend their heartiest congratulations to Miss Batten 011 her having successfully, negotiated the Tasman crossing. "That is one of the biggest accomplishments of the age," declared Mr. Savage. "Miss Batteri has not only proved herself to be foremost among women, but also fbremost among those who have mastered the air." • Mr. Savage recalled a remark by a clergyman about Miss Batten. "He said that Miss Batten hap "beaten the birds at their own game," he continued. "I thought that was splendid and very fitting. New Zealand will be proud of Miss Batten, and every member 'of this House will join with me in extending to her our very hearty congratulations and expressing the hope that she will.be spared for many years to-come to do even bigger things in the field of flying. Those of us who ha/e some knowledge of mechanical things know how easy it is for the very best machine to stop,, and the greatest engineer not to kno-./ why. By fiddling round it it goes again, as if nothing had happened. Those who know the eccentricities of the machine will marvel at the nerve as well as the capacity of the girl who has flown from Britain to New Zealand. It is one of the greatest accomplishments of the age. It brands Miss Batten net only as a fearless girl, 1 it as an. engineer of the first magnitude. It is clear to me, and to every one who has considered the thing, that women can compare very favourably with men in most things that require ingenuity, skill and daring. "I w-ant to extend, on behalf of Parliament, and on behalf of the people of New Zealand, our very hearty congratulations to Miss Batten on her accomplishment, and our great satisfaction that filie is here-well in the land of her birth," he concluded. (Applause.) Mr. Forbes associated himself with the remarks of the Prime Minister. He said they first felt relief at her safe arrival and then pride at a New Zealand girl showing such capacity, courage and determination in carrying out her flight lone-handed from Britain to arrive in the land of her birth, and thus _to achieve her ambition. When the Prime Minister extended congratulations he was doing something with which the people of New Zealand would be in hearty accord. (Applause.) f