TO JOIN POLAR EXPEDITION

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21088, 13 February 1934, Page 10

TO JOIN POLAR EXPEDITION

DR. L. H. POTAKA ON WAY TO DUNEDIX U.NCOM.MLNR'ATIVE ABO IT HIS TRIP Short, sturdy, and uncommunicative, Dr. L. 11. Potaka, of Nelson, who has been chosen to spend the winter in Little America as doctor to Rear-Admiral Richard E. Byrd's Antarctic expedition in the place of Dr. Guy Shircy, who has fallen ill, arrived in Christchurch last evening on his v;av to Dunedin. Dr. Potaka had little to say to the reporter who met him, confining himself chiefly to quoting the famous statesman who said, "'Wait and see.'' As he slopped from the service car which brought him down from the north he t-laspcd in his arms, together with other luggage, a copy of Mr G. H. Ponting's The Great White South. Mr Pouting was photographer to Scott's last expedition, and Dr. Potaka had plainly been taking an advance course in Antarctica as a means of whiling away the Jong journey from Nelson. "Well, they wanted somebody, and I happened to be free.'' he said in answer to tne question why lie had offered himself for the position. He added that he had been on the (joint of departing for Samoa wiien the request lor a doctor for Ihe expedition had been made, and had decided in favour of the Antarctic as being more interesting. A Year in Antarctica There Dr. Potaka's conlidences Leased. He was asked whether he thought the cold of polar regions would suit him, since lie is a fullblooded Maori, but replied briefly: "Wait and see. That is hard to sav

yet.'' T'ht* same answer was made when he was asked if he intended to spend the full year with the expedition, but lio added: "1 might not last as Jong as that myself." Under pressure he admitted thai, if all went, well lie would probably stay in Little America until the expedition returned.

Dr. Potaka v. as born at Lata, near Uangitikei. '■'>'! veais ago. fie was educated at WaiijiaiiU! Collegiate School, and took his medical decrees al Otagn University. He was a house surgeon in the Nelson Public Hospital for a year and a half, and then practised at Murchisnn lor three and a half years. Since leaving JVTurchison hi; has been relieving medical otliccr al the Nelson Hospital. Not an All I'.lack Though Dr. Potaka admitted that. lie had played football for Wanganui College, he denied the statement that lie bad been an All Black, or had represented Wanganui pro\mce on Hie football field. "That was: a oou.m: o! mine," he remarked concisely. Mr .1. If. Duncan, nianagcr of 11. L. Taplov and Company. Limited, agents for the Pyrd expedition, gave some further information about Dr. potaka*.% movements. He would leave for Dunedin this morning, said Mr Duncan, and join the Discovery 11. al Port Chalmers tomorrow afternoon. 'lhe Discovery H. would be met. at a point, about miles north of Little America by the Bear of Oakland, to which Dv. Potaka would bo transferred and m which be would be taken to Little America. Later Hie Bear, of Oakland would, bring Dr. Shirey back to Ncv Zealand.

Dr. Potaka will procure the scaler part of his outfit in Dunidin before lie '■ails, much special equipment in the way of clothing being necessary before he will be ready to face the Antarctic cold. Speed, however, is essential, since the lives of members of the expedition in battle America are endangered by the absence of a doetor, and little time will be wasted in Dunedin. Indeed, every effort will be made to make the stay of the Discovery 11. in Port Chalmers as short as possible, all the more so

since, as well as the doctor, she will take some urgently-needed equipment to the expedition, and it is probable that she will leave again for the south within an hour of her arrival. Mail for Little America When the Discovery 11. leaves Port Chalmers with Dr. Potaka„ she will also carry mails for the expedition, which will be transferred, together with the doctor, to the Bear of Oakland at a point about 700 miles north of Little America. The mail will close in Christchurch at 7.30 a.m. to-day, while late fee letters may be posted in the mail van of the south express until 8.35 a.m.