11 Men Selected For N.Z. Antarctic Party

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28747, 19 November 1958, Page 10

11 Men Selected For N.Z. Antarctic Party

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, November 18.

The selection of a further 11 men for New Zealand’s Antarctic exploration and observation programme in the coming season virtually completes the New Zealand team. The selection of the 12-man party to explore in the Wood Bay area was announced last month. One technician has yet to be appointed to Scott Base. The appointments announced this afternoon by the Minister of Scientific and Industrial Research (Mr Holloway) are those of the eight men of the Scott Base contingent and the three who will replace the New Zealand contingent at the combined New Zealand-United States station at Cape Hallett. These men include three men with a Christchurch background. The expedition leader is Mr L. R. Hewitt, of Christchurch, whose appointment, reported recently by “The Press” is now confirmed. The other two are Mr G. F G. Ward, senior maintenance officer at Scott Base, and Mr A. W. Black, a technician at Cape Hallett. A family interest in Scott Base will be maintained by Mr Brian Philip Sandford, of Wellington, whose brother Mr Neill Sandford, was a member of the original I.G.Y. party last year. Mr Sandford, who is 24, has been appointed senior scientist. This year he has been working at the Invercargill I.G.Y. station studying auoral spectra. Other members of the Scott Base party will be: Mr Ronald Victor Pemberton (technician), aged 27, of Wellington, employed by the Post ana Telegraph Department as a technician at the Makara radio station; Mr Mervyn Francis Rodgers (technician), aged 26, of Lower Hutt, who is on the staff of the Dominion Physical Laboratory at Gracefield; Mr Graham Frank George Ward (senior maintenance officer), aged 31, who is on the staff of the Kaitaia College as engineering instructor; Mr Leonard Joseph Sales (maintenance officer), aged 38, of Wellington. a diesel fitter in the Hutt railway workshop; Mr Pcter Phillips (radio operator), aged 43, of Devonport, now employed as a technician by the Navy Department; and Mr Eric Stuart Wedgwood (cook), aged 29, of Invercargill.

The combined New Zealand United States station at Cape Hallett will also continue to operate next year. The United States will provide a scientific leader. Mr Charles L. Roberts, a 36-year-old meteorologist, to take over from the present leader, Mr K. J. Salmon, of Wellington. The three men selected to replace the present New Zealand team are: Mr Llewellyn Ramsay Jones (scientific officer) aged 31, of Auckland: Mr Brian Edward Reid (scientific officer), aged 28, of Auckland, a biologist with the fisheries branch of the Marine Department, at Auckland; and Mr Alexander William Black (technician) aged 32, of Christchurch, who is a radio technician at the 3YA transmitting station at Gebbie’s Pass. Mr Reid will be the first New Zealand biologist to spend a year at Hallett station. He will assist with the general scientific programme during the winter, but during the months of daylight he will make a special study of the Adelic penguin colony and the movements of seals. He ,will also record the first arrivals of birds and seals during the breeding season next spring. More Than 150 Applicants “‘From more than 150 applicants. the Ross Dependency Research Committee has been able to select two strong teams,” said Mr Holloway. He confirmed that the Scott Ease party would leave Lyttelton in H.M.N.Z.S. Endeavour on December 20, and the men for Cape Hallett in the U.S.S. Arncb on January 2. Both parties will return early in 1960. “Mr Hewitt's appointment as leader will leave the scientists in the party more free to concentrate on their special responsibilities.” Mr Holloway said. •’Experience has shown the value of having a leader capable of organising the daily routine of the base and dealing with the many ■ visitors who call. : ‘“Because of its position, its fine facilities and the work being done there. Scott Base is increasingly becoming the showplace of the Antarctic. Being free from scientific duties. Mr Hewitt will be dble to look after international visitors. His wide mountaineering experience will also be invaluable during the extensive field work it is proposed to undertake from Scott Base in the summer of 1959-60. ‘‘Throughout next year, these men will continue observations and research into many fields of science which have been the subject of special study during the International Geophysical Year.” said Mr Holloway. ‘“The official I.G.Y. period finishes at the end of next month and much of the purely routine work can then be modified and reduced, allowing more time for our scientists to concentrate on research projects of special interest to New Zealand.” Dr. Hathcrton At Skelton Glacier (New Zeainna ‘\saociation > SCOTT BASE. Nov. 17 Dr. Trevor Hathcrton. chief scientist for the New Zealand International Geophysical Year programme, joined the Little America-Victoria Land traverse party at the foot of the Skelton glacier today. The traverse party is led by Mr Albert Crory. deputy-chief scientist of the United States I.G.Y programme. The party, which left the Little America station on October 15. has already travelled 500 miles across the Ross ice shelf from Little America station, making observations of snow and ice thickness and characteristics.