“GREAT WORK” PRAISED

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28479, 8 January 1958, Page 8

“GREAT WORK” PRAISED

Statement By Mr Watts

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, Jan. 7. “I thing it is time to speak out strongly on behalf of the great work done by the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition under Sir Edmund Hillary’s leadership,” said Mr J. T. Watts, M.P., today. “We should all be proud of the successful work done so far.

“As the Opposition’s senior member at present in Wellington, I feel I should speak up on behalf of the New Zealand - expedition and of Sir Edmund Hillary at this time,” said Mr Watts. The previous Government had found £250.000 in cash and equipment for the expedition, and Sir Edmund Hillary’s prestige had also raised large sums and his personal efforts had also contributed a great deal, said Mr Watts. Sir Edmund Hillary had shown great energy and imagination regarding equipment. “Sir Edmund Hillary has done six months’ great work in the Antarctic, including providing help to the British expedition by the establishment of Scott Base and maintaining good relations with the American expeditions,” he said. “He has carried out his assigned tasks in laying bases towards the Pole, including the last base at Depot 700. “It was always contemplated that Sir Edmund Hillary should go as far south as possible,” said Mr Watts. “The programme has been in two sections which are interwoven, and when Sir Edmund Hillary had completed his tasks it would have been a waste of time if he had sat waiting for two and a half- weeks at the last base when he was so close to the Pole.

“The scientific work has gone op, and there has been no interference to it in any way,” said Mr Watts. “Sir Edmund Hillary and his team have completed their mission and no harm

could have been caused by his proceeding to the Pole. We should all be proud of the successful work they have done so far.”