Hillary Hopes To Get Fuchs To Scott Base

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28481, 10 January 1958, Page 10

Hillary Hopes To Get Fuchs To Scott Base

<N«W Zealand Prtt. AMoctauonj WELLINGTON, January 9. , Sir Edmund Hillary tonight promised the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) that the New Zealand Antarctic party would see if it could' get Dr. Vivian Fuchs, . leader of the British team, from Depot 700 to Scott Base. In a radio-telephone conversation with Mr Nash, Sir Edmuijd Hillary, speaking from Scott Base, said the New Zealanders were busy getting ready to go to Depot 700.

Mr Nash had what he described as a “friendly chat” with Sir Edmund Hillary and extended to him on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand congratulations on his achievements in the Antarctic. He said later that he told Sir Edmund Hillary he was sorry that transmission conditions had prevented a conversation while the New Zealand party was at the South Pole, and thanked him personally for all he had done. Mr Nash also asked Sir Edmund Hillary if there was anything he wanted done for himself or his party in New Zealand. Sir Edmund Hillary replied that he had no special requests.

The New Zealanders were busy getting ready to go to Depot 700. and when Dr. Fuchs came along they would see if they could get him through to Scott Base. That, after all, was their main job, said Sir Edmund Hillary. “We’re sure you’ll get him through, all right,” said Mr Nash, who extended his best wishes for the venture.

He also asked Sir Edmund Hillary to convey good wishes from New Zealand to Dr. Fuchs when they met, to George * Lowe, Bob Miller, and Gordon Haslop and other New Zealanders, to the Americans at the Pole Base, and to all those at Scott Base. Sir Edmund Hillary thanked Mr Nash warmly for calling him, and promised to convey his messages to the others.