N.Z. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28183, 23 January 1957, Page 9

N.Z. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION

Commissioning Of Scott Base

The New Zealand and United States flags flew together when the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition’s Scott base was commissioned on Sunday, states a message to the United States Ncivy office in Christchurch. Captain H. Ruegg, Administrator of the Ross Dependency, said there was a strong bond of friendship between the Governments and people of America and New Zealand in war and peace, and it had been reiterated in the Antarctic. New Zealand had been the stepping-off point for many Antarctic expeditions, but took great pride in its own first Antarctic expedition, he said. Rear-Admiral George J. Duiek, Commander of United States Task Force 43, attended the ceremony and said that the people of the whole world would gain from the international co-operation and joint scientific studies being made in the Antarctic during the International Geophysical Year. The flags of both countries flew over the first building to be completed in the New Zealand base, two miles from the United States Navy’s airstrip. Able Seaman Ray Tito, the youngest member of the crew of the NewZealand’s expedition ship. H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour. and a shipmate, Blair Johnson, raised the New' Zealand flag on a flagpole used during Captain Scott's first expedition to the Antarctic.