Many Christchurch Men Seek Antarctic Posts

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 18

Many Christchurch Men Seek Antarctic Posts

More applicants seeking work in the Antarctic came from Christchurch and Wellington than from the rest of the Dominion put together said Mr R. B. Thomson, superintendent of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. yesterday.

Mr Thomson is in Christchurch to interview applicants seeking inclusion in the next New Zealand Antarctic expedition. He said 400 men had applied from all parts of New Zealand.

This year, applications for jobs as field workers had been overwhelming, although, as in previous years, there was a shortage of radio and electronic specialists, said Mr Thomson. Early in August, applicants would appear before a panel in Wellington for final selection. Field assistants’ and nontechnical staff jobs were sought by most of the applicants, he said. So far, there had been no applications for the job of radio officer.

A few more persons in Wellington sought Antarctic employment than was the case in Christchurch. There was more applicants from Invercargill than from Dunedin. Mr Thomson has had considerable experience in the

Antarctic. He has been leader at Hallett Station and, in 1962, was leader at the Australian Wilkes Station from where he led a party on a 900-mile traverse across unknown territory to Vostok Station and back. He also has served at Scott Base.