GIRL FLIER'S MOTHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21844, 5 July 1934, Page 13

GIRL FLIER'S MOTHER

MRS. BATTEN ARRIVES REUNION AT WELLINGTON INTEREST IN GREAT FLIGHT [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WELLINGTON. Wednesday New Zealand's noted airwoman, Miss Jean Batten, and her mother, Mrs. F. H. Batten, were reunited on the New Zealand Shipping Company's liner Bangitiki when the vessel arrived at Wellington to-day from London with Mrs. Batten on board. Miss Batten was on the wharf when the vessel came alongside shortly before mid-dav and she went on board as soon as the gangway was down. Mrs. Batten was informed that in all her public utterances in New Zealand her daughter had paid a great tribute to the support which her mother had accorded her in the project of the flight to Australia. "When Jean said she wanted to do the flight," said Mrs. Batten, "I naturally hoped that she would succeed. I knew she was competent, but I cannot say that I had no doubts about her getting there, for I realised that anything might happen—setbacks occur with the best of fliers." Mrs. Batten said she was naturally very pleased at the successful termination of the flight.

Asked whether she could recall her feelings when she heard the news that her daughter had landed at Darwin, Mrs. Batten replied that she did not remember now, as she had been very busy. She had received cable and wireless reports from her daughter during the flight and on the last night sat up all night. She had also been well posted of the progress of the flight by the London newspapers.

When questioned further Mrs. Batten said she felt that she could not add anything more. "The flight is done, the record is broken and that's all there is to it." English people had been very pleased at Miss Batten's success and Mrs. Amy Mollison, whose record was broken, sent a telegram both before and after the flight. The former read: "Sincerely hope everything will go well. Shall be thinking of you. All the best.—Amy Mollison." |

Mrs. Batten said she certainly would not stand in the way of her daughter if she wished to undertake another flight. Jean would be able to do just whatever she wanted. Explaining Mr. Batten's attitude, Mrs. Batten said that he was very fond of his daughter and as he had not seen her training he was afraid that disaster might overtake her. When he knew that she intended to make the flight he sent a cablegram wishing his daugher every good fortune. If the weather is favourable Miss Batten will leave by air for Blenheim on Friday and go on to Christchurch on Saturday morning in the course of her visit to the south. Mrs. Batten said to-day that she would be leaving at an early date for Auckland.