Book On N.Z. Work In Antarctic Suggested

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29855, 22 June 1962, Page 13

Book On N.Z. Work In Antarctic Suggested

An important story was waiting to be told, not only in New Zealand but to the world, about what had been accomplished in the Ross Dependency in recent years, said the superintendent of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Mr G. W. Markham) in Christchurch last evening.

Addressing members of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society Mr Markham said unfortunately the Dominion was well behind in publishing a popular narrative of its scientific and exploratory studies in the Antarctic. In addition, certain scientific studies were very slow in being produced. Mr Markham, speaking on “New Zealand’s five years in the Antarctic,” said much had taken place in that period of which New Zealanders could feel proud. More than 100 scientific

papers had been published in learned journals all over the world. In New Zealand the Lands and Survey Department had published about 17 maps of the Antarctic, an achievement that no other country participating in Antarctic research could match. These were eagerly sought, he said, particularly by the Americans,

Mr Markham’s lecture was illustrated by maps, two for each year, which from 195657 outlined the exploration of the Ross Sea area to the present time. On the subject of future New Zealand programme in the Antarctic, Mr Markham spoke of extensions to Scott Base, continued geographical and topographical surveys, building of a “summer residence” at Cape Royds, and the participation once again of parties from Victoria and Canterbury universities. It was hoped to erect a hut for four men to study biology at Cape Royds. Scientific work would be in the Terra Nova-Wood Bay area where an eight-man party would be put in. It was also possible that a two-man party would go to Cape Adare to study the 700,000 penguins living there. Speaking of some of the work deficiencies in Antarctica Mr Markham said not enough attention had been given to the geology and geophysics of Ross Island. In geology only a broad reconnaissance had been carried out. Seal population dynamics were not known. Then there was the annual break-up of ice in McMurdo Sound, the cause of which was not known. This could be a detailed study for a number of years that New Zealand could well take in hand. It was time a modern history was written on the Ross Dependency, said Mr Markham. At present one was bein,, written but only up to the 1929 period. It was time a work was begun on modern exploration. Mr Markham said he hoped to get this achieved in the next year or two.