CONTROLLING THE ANTARCTIC

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21082, 6 February 1934, Page 13

CONTROLLING THE ANTARCTIC

AUSTRALIA'S PLANS SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION MAY HE SENT \fM).l Ola O»Ji tUHftEaPUKDKIIT.) SYDNEY, January 25. Important developments are expected soon in arrangements for the administration of Australia's territory in the Antarctic. Since these possessions were taken over last June from Great Britain, the Commonwealth Government has been formulating a policy for the control of the Australian sector of the Antarctic, which comprises more than one-third of the whole continent and covers many hundreds nf thousand-- of square miles. Consideration will probably be given to suggestions for the dispatch of another expedition to make a further scientific study of conditions in the Antarctic and to explore large tracts of land which have not yet been visited, and which contain important economic possibilities. It is likely that the main points of the Government's oolicy will be: The prevention of the indiscriminate slaughter of whales. Protection of fauna and rare birds. Enquiry into the breeding of valuable fur-bearing animals. The early establishment of meteorological stations in the far south. Australia has completed an agreement with other interested countries which limits the operations of whalers. Any vessel which intends to fish in Antarctic waters under Australian control will, in future, have to obtain permission from the Commonwealth Government and, at request, supply statistics as to the number of whales that are killed. The establishment of a meteorological station in the Far South with wireless apparatus for sending weather reports to the mainland has long been recognised as desirable. At present the accuracy of Australian weather forecasts is impaired because there is an entire absence of information as to the meteorological conditions of the southern continent. Australia's last expedition to the Antarctic was organised in conjunction with the New Zealand Government and was dispatched in 1929 under the command of Sir Douglas Mawson. Valuable information was obtained, and new stretches of coast line were charted but there are still large tracts of country to be explored. It is not known whether New Zealand would be asked to co-operate again with Australia in a work which must be of great value to both.