MISS BATTEN HONOURED

Southland Times, Issue 23025, 20 October 1936, Page 8

MISS BATTEN HONOURED

Civic Reception In Auckland

STREET NAMED AFTER AVIATRIX

AUCKLAND EXPRESSES PRIDE

(United Press Association.) Auckland, October 19. Scenes of intense enthusiasm were witnessed this afternoon when the citizens of Auckland paid homage at a civic reception to Miss Jean Batten. The building was taxed to capacity and thousands were outside. The famous aviatrix was accorded a splendid reception. As she was escorted up the aisle of the Town Hall the great audience rose and cheered wildly, and again when a beautiful bouquet was presented on the stage. The Mayor (Mi- Ernest Davis) announced that Miss Jean Batten’s name was to be perpetuated by naming a new city street after her. The announcement was loudly cheered. ’ The speech of commendation of the Prime Minister (the fit. Hon. M. J. Savage) was relayed by telephone from Wellington. Other speakers were the Attorney-General (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) on behalf of the Government, Squadron-Leader L. M. Isitt, of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, RearAdmiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond, of the Royal Navy, and Mr F. H. Batten, the father of the aviatrix. Miss Batten, in replying, reviewed her flight and her career as an aviatrix.

The Mayor said that unquestionably Miss Batten was the most popular woman in the world to-day and her name and her record of performances would enrich the annals of history. From the depth of their hearts those present welcomed her to her home town. Miss Batten had covered herself with the glory of achievement and had brought enduring fame to Auckland. Their pride in her knew no bounds. Her successes spoke eloquently for themselves, but he (the Mayor) had endeavoured in a short testimonial to interpret to her the views of her fellow citizens on her remarkable attainments. The Testimonial.

The testimonial, which read as follows, was then read by the Town Clerk:—

TO MISS JEAN BATTEN, C.B.E. GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE CORPORATION AND CITIZENS OF AUCKLAND. To such degree as words can express our pride in your epic achievement and indicate our appreciation of the sterling qualities which added this historic triumph to your amazing record, we salute you as the first being in the history of mankind to fly solo from England direct to New Zealand. Dy your accomplishment you have so thoroughly furnished the lustre of your previous performances, dazzling though they were, that it should retain its brilliance through all the dimming ravages of time, as we now measure it.”

The most appropriate manner in which we could perpetuate the name of Miss Jean Batten has been a matter of deep thought, said Mr Davis. “It is in a spirit of deep rejoicing and great thankfulness that we offer you the homage of this testimonial, in recognition of your indomitable courage, your will to succeed against almost insuperable odds, your outstanding ability as a pilot and navigator and your deeply implanted gifts of enterprise and perseverance. In forging a flawless aerial link between the Mother Country and this greater Britain of the south you have rendered to the Empire a service which, in character, upholds the highest traditions of pioneering endeavour. You annihilated distance at a rate 10 times faster than that at which the sailing ships of the early settlers travelled, and. in doing so, you displayed to a marked extent the same sturdy qualities of self-reliance, determination and pluck. Deservedly your magnificent effort elevates you to the select ranks ! of the . world’s foremost pilots. Miss I Batten, in tendering to you our warmest I congratulations and heartiest good I wishes v.-e are inspired by the know- ! ledge that you are an Aucklander and I a woman. By your remarkable achievement you have brought great credit to I

your city and your country and everlasting honour to your sex. We wish you now, as always. long life and good health and that full measure of happiness which you so richly deserve.” Perpetuation of Name. “The most appropriate manner in which we could perpetuate the name of Miss Jean Batten has been a matter of deep thought,” said Mr Davis, after the reading of the address. Various ideas had suggested themselves and they had decided to name the new connecting street on the old Post Office site, between Shortland street and Fort street Jean Batten Place, said Mr Davis. It was an important link in the city and thousands passed it daily. A suitable tablet recording Miss Batten’s performances would be erected, so that the memory of that day would be kept evergreen. The Mayor added: “The better the day the better the deed,” and he thereupon initiated the gathering into some of the mysteries of an Auckland City Council gathering. The Mayor then put the motion to the members of the City Council present and, amid laughter and applause, the motion was I declared carried unanimously. Amid further applause Miss Batten was then handed a locality plan. “Representatives in Auckland of

overseas nations are grateful to echo, as it were, the applause of the countries they represent,” said Mr Walter F. Boyle, Dean of the Consular Corps. “We echo the applause of the whole wide world in honour of the little white dove who has equalled the flight of the eagle and the stormscorning stamina of the albatross: who has braved the seas and the emptiness of space and is now with us.” Magnificent Achievements.

Mr Savage’s remarks were amplified to the audience. Mr Savage said that he was very pleased to join with the Mayor and citizens of Auckland in doing honour to Miss Jean Batten. It was a magnificent achievement and triumph, one of the greatest records in the history of British aviation and a tribute to Miss Batten’s skill and endurance. Miss Batten had proved beyond doubt that the assumption that men were always superior was not always right. She had performed a wonderfully outstanding feat and New Zealand was proud to know that one of the most famous pioneers of aviation was its own Miss Batten. She was one of the pioneers who had braved the elements. He hoped that Miss Batten would be blessed with good health and would have continued success in her life.

“Kia ora,” said the Prime Minister, in conclusion. “I have only to reiterate on behalf of the Government the words which you have heard from Wellington from the Prime Minister himself,” said Mr Mason. “Miss Batten’s recent exploit is one which will not easily be equalled by another.

:e The Mayor said that he would call st on “Auckland’s own little heroine.” r. When Miss Batten rose the big 0 gathering cheered excitedly and then - broke into the singing of: “For She’s a 1, Jolly Good Fellow.”

Mail Service Possible. With the sang froid that is characteristic of her, Miss Batten began to speak. | She said first of all that she wanted | to thank the people of Auckland for the | wonderful tribute and she hoped that I she deserved it. She also wanted to j thank them for the wonderful reception they had given her on her arrival. She I was proud as a New Zealander and an Aucklander that she had been able to link England and New Zealand, the furthermost part of the British Empire, in a direct flight and also that she had demonstrated that it was possible to have a direct air mail service between England and the Dominion. She had actually flown the journey in less time than the air mail took to Australia alone. Describing her flight across the < Tasman, Miss Batten said that she did not have good weather for the last 300 miles and near the New Zealand coast visibility was about a mile. She was one mile off the land when she saw it and they could imagine her delight when she saw Sugar Loaf Rock and a few minutes later flew over New Ply - mouth. Even with wireless and direction-finding she could not have made her landfall more accurately. It was a great temptation to land at New Plymouth, where there were hundreds of people waiting in the rain, but she then steered a course for Auckland and reached Mangere an hour later, when 104 hours out from Australia.

Miss Batten expressed to the Mayor her deep appreciation of the decision to name a place in Auckland after her, and said that it was difficult to express her. true feelings. She hoped, however, that Jean Batten Place would be an inspiration to the people and remind them that a new era had been reached and that the people should be more airminded than they were at present. “Thank you,” said Miss Batten, in conclusion, and the big gathering again rose and cheered.

Mr Batten Congratulated. “I feel that I can convey to Mr Batten your congratulations on the honour which his daughter has brought him,” remarked Mr Davis, when the applause had subsided. “Mr Batten is a shy and modest gentleman, but I am going to ask him to speak a few words.” “ ‘From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh,’ ” quoted Mr Batten, “and my heart is very full of gratitude to Providence for the safe arrival of my daughter from England.” It had been an anxious time for him, he said, but he had full confidence in Miss Batten’s ability. When he had seen the plane in the distance it had been a wonderful moment for him. “Although I am very proud of Jean, and although she is a very famous pilot, to me she is still just my little girl,” added Mr Batten, amid renewed cheering. • Thousands gathered outside the Town

Hall to catch a glimpse of Miss Batten as she emerged from the reception. In response to the acclamation of the crowd she was hoisted aloft by willing hands and waved a greeting to the crowd. Fortified by a posse of police she was escorted to her car, but so great was the pressure of the throng that the escort had to force a passage. On the way back Miss Batten visited Jean Batten Place and she expressed gratification at the honour that had been bestowed upon her.