TERRITORY IN ANTARCTIC

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28153, 17 December 1956, Page 22

TERRITORY IN ANTARCTIC

CLAIM REITERATED BY N.Z. INTENTION TO RETAIN JURISDICTION (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, December 16. New Zealand’s claim to Antarctic territory—the Ross Dependency—was reiterated by the Minister of External Affairs (Mr T. L. Macdonald) in a statement issued tonight. The Minister had been asked for his views on “amused” comments from Americans now in the Antarctic about New Zealand's claim to territory there which few New Zealanders have ever visited. “The dependency has been under the jurisdiction of New Zealand since 1923, when it was transferred to us by Britain,” said the Minister. “This fact has been recognised by most other countries with interests in Antarctica. “The continued administration of the territory and increased activity there by New Zealanders during the next few years can serve only to strengthen our territorial claim.” Mr Macdonald said the Government was, of course, aware that the United States did not recognise any territorial claims in Antarctica. “In the past, we have offered assistance and facilities to American scientific expeditions planning to operate partly or wholly within the borders of the dependency,” he said. “More recently, the Government has been glad to accept generous offers of American assistance for the current New Zealand Antarctic expedition. “Such co-operalion is. I am glad to say. typical of the close and friendly relations that exist between our two countries; and it is certainly to be expected that they will be maintained in future years,” Mr Macdonald said.