New Zealand Expedition Going To Unexplored South America

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28089, 3 October 1956, Page 6

New Zealand Expedition Going To Unexplored South America

"The Press” Special Service

WELLINGTON. October 2. A party of young New Zealanders will sail in March for South America to spend two years exploring remote areas of Venezuela, British Guiana, Northern Brazil, and Peru. The object of the trip it to collect anthropological data on native tribes, and the expedition also intends to complete a photographic survey of the tribes in the areas of the Orinoco Basin and Guiana highlands. The expedition is largely self-sup-porting. Each member has contributed £5OO. and it is hoped to raise another £2OOO before March from the proceeds of film evenings, dances, ana raffles. Though unsponsored, the group has received generous financial assistance from many Auckland businessmen.

The idea of organising an expedition to the Amazon was conceived two years ago by Mr F. W. Bradley, a 24-year-old anthropology student at Auckland University College, and he has for the last six months been recruiting suitable members for the party and attending to finance and equipment.

Other members include Mr Douglas Kiley, of Auckland, a science graduate of Liverpool University, also a keen student of anthropology, who will be co-leader: Mr Arthur Wilcox, an engineer, who will be navigator: Mr Allan Gordon, a restaurant and forestry camp cook; and Mr Rex Foley, who will undertake the cooking and general duties.

Mr Colin Ritchie, a carpenter, but also a handy man on the typewriter, will be in charge of note-taking. The expedition will be well served by photographers. There are Mr Ken Blackburn, a laboratory technician. Mr

lan Lack, trained in commercial photography. and Mr Frank O’Leary, a photo engraver’s assistant, of Wellington.

The expedition will be fitted out with all-New Zealand equipment. “Camping gear made in New Zealand is rapidlv becoming recognised as the best in the world.” said Mr Bradley. The party would also take with it New Zealand food—mostly dehydrated, he said.

It is expected that the expedition will be able to live to some extent “off the land.” for the region abounds in edible wildfowl and fish. Emergency rations would include dog-biscuit and chocolate. An important item in the medical kit will be the latest anti-malaria drugs. Training for Trip To ensure that all members are thorqughly fit, the expedition has for some months undergone rugged training in the New Zealand bush. The group has had as an adviser Dr. Leonard Bennett, of Auckland. An Englishman, he was for many years engineer and architect in the service of the Venezuelan Government. When the expedition arrives in South America it will welcome the advice and benefit from the experience of a friend of Dr. Bennett, Mr Edwin Prodgers, who has charge of a big cattle ranch near the borders of Southern Venezuela and Colombia. He is the only white man in that vast area, and has a sound knowledge of the conditions to be expected in the unexplored territory which the expedition will encounter. He will provide guides and probably some form of transport.