Inaugural Meeting Of Ross Sea Committee

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27676, 4 June 1955, Page 8

Inaugural Meeting Of Ross Sea Committee

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 3. “This is a high adventure to which you are now asked to lend your thoughts and energies. Antarctica is a challenge and New Zealand, with others participating in the trans-con-tinental adventure, has now taken up that challenge. lam sure that we shall prove adequate, for our country has never yet fallen down on a major job.”

The Prime Minister (Mr Holland) said this today at the inaugural meeting of the Ross Sea Committee, the newly-formed organisation which will make arrangements for New Zealand’s participation in the Commonwealth trans-Antarctic expedition. Mr Holland informed' the committee that Sir Miles Clifford, a foriner Governor of the Falkland Islands, and a member of the British expedition organisation, would reach New Zealand on Sunday, and would hold talks with the committee during next week. Sir Miles Clifford would also call on him, said the Prime Minister.

Antarctica was perhaps the last of the world’s unconquered physical frontiers, which had challenged the imagination of daring men of many nations, said Mr Holland.

“We have had a territorial interest there for more than 30 years, but though we have been hosts to several explorers, and have watched their ex-

peditions with great interest, we have not previously played a major part in Antarctic exploration,” he said. “I must confess that the projected Commonwealth expedition has captured my imagination, as 1 am sure it will capture the imagination of the public.” Importance of N.Z. Role The Prime Minister described the role assigned to the New Zealand section of the expedition—the establishment of a base in McMurdo Sound, the laying of supply depots for 300 miles toward the pole, and associated exploration—as of the utmost importance to the success of the expedition. '“lf our end of it, the last lap. is not a success, then the expedition itself can hardly be a success,” he said. “I am confident that there is no danger of that. The Government has already shown its practical interest and sympathy with a grant of £50,000, and the British Government similarly has made a grant of £lOO,OOO. “The Government here will also help with the advice of its scientists and technical people.” Expeditions on the scale contemplated were costly affairs, Mr Holland said, and it was likely that a great deal of money would have to be found over and above the Government grants. He expressed confidence that the public would be fully sympathetic. The chairman of the committee (Mr C. M. Bowden) expressed the thanks of the committee for the Government

grant, and said that members were full of enthusiasm for the project. “We realise Antarctica’s importance,” he said. “We know there is coal there; there may also be metals and oil. Antarctica is also the source of a whaling industry worth £150,000,000 a year.” The committee dealt mainly with matters of organisation today. It decided to invite the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie) to become patron, and the Prime Minister to become vice-patron. The Minister of Marine (Mr J. K. McAlpine), a member of the Prime Minister’s committee on Antarctica, was present.