THE POLAR FLAG

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1933, Page 2

THE POLAR FLAG

BYRD AND THE ROT ART AN.S. A GIFT AND A PROMISE. (Special to the United Press Association.) BOSTON (Mass.), June 27. Yesterday and today New Zealand was prominently in the picture at the Rotary international Convention now bciiV-t held here, and in the minds and hearts of American citizens. The Dominion has been properly put on the map by a simple little incident —the handing over to Rotary International of the flag taken by Rear-Admiral Byrd to the South Pole on behalf of the Wellington Rotary Club.

As a prominent Bostonian who had brought honour to his native land, and as a Rotarian himself, the RearAdmiral was asked to speak at the opening of the proceedings, and he did so in felicitous language, mentioning that in .1926 he carried with him a Rotarian flag to the North Pole. Be went on to say:— “When I reached New Zealand, which is, as you know, the nearest place to the Little America, our base there, the Rotary Club in Wellington presented me with a Rotary flag which I took across the South Pole. (Applause.) I understand that there is a delegation here from New Zealand. I Avant to give them my Avarmest welcome, and toll them how delighted 1 am to see them in this country. Certainly the people of New Zealand treated ns as brothers when we were doAvn there. Our expedition owes them all a very great debt of gratitude. I was proud' to carry the Rotary flag before. 1 believe absolutely in what Rotary stands for. I think it is a Avonderful thing to sec these people gathered here from all over the world in friendship, and I think it is going to help the progress of the world. “So I took the flag, and if I am permitted to do so, I rvill take it again. Wo are leaving on the loth of September to spend another two years down there. We expect to find, and hope to find, a now continent on the face of the earth, I will take that flag on our flight of discovery when avc try to find that noAV continent.” This morning the silken flag avrs presented by the Governor of Rotary in Ncav Zealand (Rotarian T. C. List). In doing so he told the convention of the Avarm feeling which had sprung up betAveen Rear-Admiral Byrd, his officers and men, at their base in Ncav Zealand. Indeed, the famed aerial conqueror had proved a Avonderful ambassador—the United 'States could have chosen no better —and the Dominion felt it an honour to have him and his men as guests. It Avould give Ncav Zealanders great pleasure to knoAV that he Avould be returning there later in the year, and they Avould much appreciate the kindly references he made regarding them the previous morning, “Wo were glad to “Welcome him before,” said Rotarian List; “avc will be doubly happy avlioii he returns. " (Applause.) He then handed the flag to President Clinton Anderson, saying that the Wellington Rotary Club felt Rotary International Avas the appropriate repository for such a token of international amity. The vast audience then rose and enthusiastically applauded. President Anderson replied: “I am sure you Avould Avant me to say to Admiral Byrd that, wherever he may go, under Avhatever circumstances he may fly, avc want him to realise that his ship is also carried along and lifted into the skies by the good Avishes of his folloaa'-R otarians; that wherever ho may carry the flag of Rotary avg knoAV that ho Avill carry it Avitli honour and credit to our organisation; and wo hope that he may long live as an ambassador of goodwill between all parts of the Avorld, particularly betAA r een Rotarians from one land to another, ”

Rear-Admiral Byrd said lio thought this Avas a wonderful gesture on the part of New Zealand, It was a beautiful thing that had been done to present the flag. “In order to further strengthen the link between New Zealand and this country, I pledge myself now that when we fly over unknown regions in the Antarctic, if we get there in good shape, I am going to name a part of that area, in the name of the New Zealand Rotary clubs and for the Rotary clubs, Little New Zealand.” (Loud and prolonged applause.) Admiral Byrd was visibly moved by tae thoughtful act of the Wellington Rotary Club, the felicitous references to the regard in Avhieh lie is held in the southern Dominion, the gracious words of President Anderson, and the demonstration of the SHOO Rotarians gathered in the big building from the four corners of the earth. After ho sat down crowds rushed to the platform to shake him and Rotarian List by the hand, and hundreds of boys wanted their autographs. The incident was one of the happiest and most striking, as it was one of the most unexpected, of a week’s memorable •iroceedings.