PRESS COMMENT IN BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28490, 21 January 1958, Page 10

PRESS COMMENT IN BRITAIN

“Relief As Well As Congratulations” (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 20. The “Daily Telegraph” said in a leading article today that there would be relief, as well as congratulations, now that Dr. Fuchs had reached the pole. The congratulations would certainly have been earned.

Dr. Fuchs had to travel a longer distance, and under considerably worse conditions, than his subordinate colleague, Sir Edmund Hillary.

The relief must lie in the fact that now it should be possible to resolve the tensions and misunderstandings which marred the final stages of this leg—for it was no more than a leg—of the whole expedition, the article said. Sir Edmund Hillary was not wrong to push on to the Pole, since a last message reached him too late. Nor was he wrong to offer his leader advice which the latter decided to over-rule. Congratulations By Mr Bowden (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 20. The chairman of the Ross Sea Committee (Mr C. M. Bowden) sent Dr. Fuchs a congratulatory message immediately he was informed of the British party's arrival at the South Pole. The message reads: “Hearty congratulations on having completed for the first time in history the journey from the Weddell Sea to the Pole. “I look forward to the time when I can also felicitate you on completing the second stage, thus accomplishing your ambition of making a trans-continental journey and carrying out your valuable scientific programme, kia ora—Bowden, chairman.”