BYRD HONORED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17231, 10 April 1930, Page 11

BYRD HONORED

MINISTERIAL BANQUET EXPLORER’S MODESTY (Per Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Ministerial luncheon accorded Admiral Byrd at Parliament House today was notable for the modesty of the utterances of the distinguished guest. Conqueror of the two Poll's, and world-famous ns an explorer. Admiral Byrd had nothing lo snv of his achievements. He preferred to be regarded as one of a party, sharing equally with the others what praise was bestowed. Typical of the man was his reference to Scott and Shacklcton. “Our job was nothing compared with theirs. They were the pathfinders, the real pioneers.’’ After the toasts of the King and the President of the United States hud been honored, the Hon. G. AY. Forbes proposed that of “Admiral Byrd.” “We welcome you,” said the Minister, “ns a representative of the United States and as an otlieer of its navy. Wo realise how much our countries have in common; how our soldier* and sailors fought in a common cause and shared in the common sacrifice that built tip a bond of friendship that will have a most important bearing on the future prosperity and peace of the world.” The Minister referred to previous attempts to reach the South Pole and said that in-all those contests there had always been a full recognition of the nature, of the merits of the rival expeditions. New Zealand had been closely associated with Antarctic expeditions and it had nothing but admiration for the work the Byrd expedition had accomplished. “New Zealand,” he said, “is proud that it has been the base country of the expedition. Apart from the notable achievement of crossing the South Pole, a great deal of scientific work has been done and it will be of great benolit to New Zealand, the United States and the whole of the world. We feel it is an historic occasion to be associated with you. it will be something to look back upon.” Admiral Byrd referred to the presence of his shipmates and claimed to be. only one of them, deserving only equally with them the hospitality they had been accorded. He thanked tlui Government on their behalf as well as on his own. "Scott and Shackleton have always been great heroes of mine,'’ continued Admiral Bvrd, “and now 1 have been to the Antarctic, I come back with an even greater admiration for them. I liese fellows did almost superhuman tilings. Wo had the help of this great new thing, aviation, and also radio, and we had the dogs. Our job was nothing compared with theirs. They were real pathfinders—the real pioneers. They did more for science than we could ever hope to accomplish. We started where they left off. We hope we have added a little to the. knowledge of the world.” (Applause).