Personnel Wanted For Winter In Antarctic

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28951, 20 July 1959, Page 13

Personnel Wanted For Winter In Antarctic

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 19. With the approach of another full scientific season for New Zealand in the Antarctic,. personnel are being recruited to man Scott Base and the joint New Zealand-United States base, Hallett Station, throughout next' winter. Within the next 10 days the Antarctic division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research hopes to find 13 men who will spend next winter in the Antarctic together with two members of the summer geological and survey expedition. One of the most important men wanted is the cook. Scientists, technicians and engineers will be working together to carry out an extensive programme which includes seismology, meteorology, ionospherics, magnetics and auroral study. The Antarctic division ’ls asking for two biologists to spend the summer studying the penguin rookery at Cape Royds, where they will live in Shackleton’s hut. Two oceanographers are also needed to join the oceanographic and sea seismic survey teams, which will operate from the New Zealand Navy supply ship, the Endeavour, on two cruises.

Applications are invited, for a scientific officer, a surveyor and two field assistants to take part in the geological and survey expedition in South Victoria Land. This extensive topographical mapping expedition will be supported by the R.N.Z.A.F.’s Antarctic flight.

Preparations are already being made to equip the men with

special winter clothing and skis, ice axes and crampons. As soon as the applicants have been selected, short but intensive training courses in the use of scientific equipment will begin. Three-month courses will be held at the Dominion Physical Laboratory, at Gracefield, the seismological observatory in Wellington, the geophysical and magnetic observatories in Christchurch and the Invercargill auroral station.

The schedule for relieving wintering parties is being reorganised so that each party will spend only one Christmas in the Antarctic. This arrangement will also enable some members of each party to take part in field work during the second season of their stay. The coming season’s scientific programme in the Antarctic will get under way in October, when the Endeavour sails from Wellington on the first oceanographic cruise. The relief Scott Base and Hallett Station parties will embark on the Endeavour soon after Christmas.