Hillary Sees Tourist Potential In Antarctic

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28922, 16 June 1959, Page 12

Hillary Sees Tourist Potential In Antarctic

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, June 15.

The Antarctic had great tourist possibilities. Sir Edmund Hillary said in Melbourne yesterday. “As a summer resort,” he added.

Sir Edmund Hillary was passing through Melbourne on his way from New Zealand to receive gold medals as “conqueror of Mount Everest” from the Royal Geographic Society of South .Australia and the Royal Society in Hobart. He will also give lectures in Adelaide and Tasmania.

“I think the best tourist possibilities are at McMurdo Sound and the Ross Sea,” he said. “There wouldn’t be more beautiful views anywhere in the world. “This isn’t a new idea. The former commander of the American Antarctic Force (RearAdmiral George Dufek) has already suggested there should be an air base there.”

Sir Edmund Hillary said the Chinese Government had refused to allow him to climb Everest from the north side, and he believed Russians and Chinese would probably tackle this next year.

“I was primarily planning a physiological experiment on acclimatisation,” he said. “I have always believed that if you were acclimatised properly you could get to the top of Everest (29,002 ft without oxygen.

“I have climbed to 24.000 ft without oxygen, and I have been for long periods at 28,000 ft without oxygen.”

Sir Edmund Hillary said he did

not think the public would be interested, enough to subscribe the £40,000 necessary to equip a physiological expedition to climb Everest along his 1953 route. “I think it should be climbed again,” he said but he would n6t say whether he wanted to take part in an expedition over the 1953 route. “Offer me £40,000 anil I’ll tell you,” he said with, a laugh. r.