Political Experiment In Antarctica Praised

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30594, 10 November 1964, Page 18

Political Experiment In Antarctica Praised

Of all the many experiments in the Antarctic in recent years the political one —of 12 nations joining in cooperative scientific effort—was the biggest and potentially the most important of all, said Mr G. W. Markham, director of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, speaking at an Antarctic Week function in the Civic Theatre last evening.

The 12 Antarctic Treaty nations were pooling their talents to secure knowledge for the benefit of all mankind, Mr Markham said. Who knew what such an experiment might be the blueprint for.

Addressing his audience—the largest yet for an Antarctic Week civic evening—as “Yankiwis,” Mr Markham complimented the public of Christchurch on its enthusiasm for Antarctic matters and said that not all New Zealanders were of like mind. Some New Zealand taxpayers wanted to know why the Dominion was spending “all this money” in the Antarctic. He felt sure that Rear-Admiral J. R. Reedy, commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force, was also asked this question by senators in Washington; Three Basic Reasons

There were three basic reasons why New Zealand was in the Antarctic. The first was scientific. Knowledge gained in Antarctica was of potential use outside the Continent. The second was international. In 1956 5000 scientists from many nations worked co-operatively in the major scientific assault on the continent connected with the International Geophysical Year. Since then 12 nations had co-operated further, signed the Antarctic Treaty proposed by President Eisenhower. and successfully worked today in peace and harmony. Science led the way and the politicians followed, he said.

The last reason was a national one, said Mr Markham. Antarctica was in the Dominion’s backyard, so to speak. “If the Yanks are going to play in our backyard then we say we want to play with them,” he said.

Admiral Reedy also said that Antarctic research had produced some of the finest results in international cooperation ever achieved. The co-operating nations had assembled a “great pile, of knowledge” about the continent.

Later, Admiral Reedy spoke by radio-telephone with his flag headquarters at McMurdo Station, his deputy (Captain M. Holzrichter) reporting on his recent trip to the Amund-sen-Scott South Pole station and describing the McMurdo region and its landmarks. The Scott Base leader (Major Ad-

rian Hayter) then spoke with Mr Markham, and the Mayor (Mr G. Manning) was handed the telephone for a quick chat. Mayor Welcomes Public Earlier, Mr Manning, in welcoming the publi • and guests, said it was very fitting that Christchurch should keep alive the spirit and traditions of Antarctic polar exploration. Prizes were presented to the winners of the Antarctic project contest by Mr Manning and Admiral Reedy. In the foyer a guard of honour was provided by men of the United States Navy, United States Air Force, and the Canterbury Division of the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve. The Band of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment played on the stage. Three films were shown—“Vostok 900,” the story of the traverse from the Australian Wilkes Station to Vostok Station in 1962; “Portrait of Antarctic,” a United States Navy film in colour; and the “Glacier Climbers,” a National Film Unit production.