AIRSHIP PROGRESS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 114, 10 April 1930, Page 6

AIRSHIP PROGRESS

TWELVE DAYS TO LONDON. ADMIRAL BYRD’S PREDICTION. (By Telegraph.—Special to Standard ) -WELLINGTON, April 10. "I hope within a few years to bu able to revisit New Zealand in a airship,” was a confident phrase used by Rear-Admiral Byrd at the Govem•ment luncheon in his honour yesterday. The Admiral devoted a fair amount of his brief speech of response to aviation • progress, declaring that he believed aviation was more important, as an instrument of peace than of war, because it brought the nations closer together and from a better understanding of each other came permanent peace. “In a few years,” ho added, “airships will be flying across the Atlantic, and a few years later they will L c crossing the Pacific, and I hope to revisit New Zealand in a big airship. R will cut down your voyage to England to twelve day's.” The problem of landing in a fog had not yet been solved, but when that day arrived there be flying all ovethe' world. The distinguished explorer, before acknowledging the warm welcome from Hon. G. W. Forbes, Minister of Lards on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion, asked i._colleagues in the expedition who v. .- •- present to stand. Then, at his reque..-,. they drank to the good health of rut Government and people of New Zealand. Admiral Byrd, stressing the that he was only one of a team of 7. introduced each of his colleagues with a pleasant reference to his in dividual services. ; In enumerating the services rendered to the expedition by the various Government departments, Admiral Byrd mentioned * that the Lands Department made up a v special map of the Ross Sea area, which contained information not available anywhere else in the world.' He would feel everlasting gratitude for what New Zealand had done for them, and he asked that, he might have the privilege of conveying to the American nation a special greeting from the people of New Zealand. NEW ZEALAND ENSIGN. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 9. To be preserved as one of New Zealand’s cherished possessions a Dominion flag carried by Rear-Admiral Byrd on his flight over the Soutli Pole was 'returned to the Government by the explorer at the Ministerial luncheon accorded him to-day. “We carried with us across the South Pole the .flag of New Zealand, and I now wish to return it to the Government,” said Admiral Byrd. “This other flag I will take home with me and present to the United States Government.” The combination of the American and New Zealand flags in the table decoration scheme was noted by the Admiral. “I have been looking,” he said, “at the two flags together on the tables—burs and yours. That is how they should be. I hope they always will be together. I have no doubt in the world that they will be. As far as civilisation and humanity' are concerned, we have the same common interests. I take this opportunity of heartily reciprocatiim the sentiments of goodwill which , nave been expressed.” In reply, Mr Forbes said that the Government was .highly honoured in receiving the flag from the hands of Admiral Byrd. It would be treasured as the memento of an historic event. The Minister asked the Admiral, on his return to America, to act as an unofficial ambassador for New Zealand and to convey to the President and the people of the United States the Dominion’s best wishes for their future ■prosperity.