N.Z. Completes Decade Of Antarctic Research

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30919, 27 November 1965, Page 18

N.Z. Completes Decade Of Antarctic Research

[By N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent,

JOHN MURPHY

SCOTT BASE. A decade of scientific research in Antarctica has been completed by New Zealand—in the summer of 1955-56 an advance party of the New Zealand section of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition arrived in the McMurdo Sound area.

Scott Base was built the next summer as a joint headquarters for members of the expedition and International Geophysical Year scientists. The scientific work started during those summers is, with many additions, being continued today at New Zealand’s Scott Base.

“New Zealand’s record of work and results achieved compares most favourably with the other 11 Antarctic treaty nations,” said the deputy-chairman of the Ross Dependency Research Committee (Mr R. W. Willett), who recently spent a week at Scott Base.

Mr Willett is director of the Geological Survey, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He is the chairman and convener for the working party on geology of the International Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, and, in recognition of his geological work in New Zealand, Otago University is shortly to confer on him, an honorary doctorate in science.

The Ross Dependency Research Committee is a committee fully representative of Antarctic interests and is responsible to the Minister of Science. It examines and prepares New Zealand's programme of research in Antarctica to see that projects are efficient and effective, and that the results are collated and published. “New Zealand has confined its research to the Ross Dependency sector and oceanographic studies in the sea between New Zealand and

McMurdo Sound. The writing up of results is an integral part of each project and New Zealand’s record of publication in all spheres of Antarctic scientific research is outstanding,” said Mr Willett. “Three special Antarctic issues of the New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics have been received with international acclaim. The third issue, published this year, includes the early portion of last summer’s field work,” said Mr Willett. “One-third of the Antarctic continent’s exposed rock is in the Ross Dependency, which imposes on New Zealand an obligation to do the best work possible in the area. Wealth Of Work “The past decade has yielded a broad knowledge and general reconnaissance on geology, geophysics, and biology in the Ross Dependency. It is difficult to predict in years how much more fruitful work can be done in the dependency; but as a unique laboratory the area still offers a wealth of work. In geology, for example, there are still many gaps to be closed before a complete knowledge of the area is obtained. The aim is to prepare a geological map of the Ross Dependency—such as there is of New Zealand and all its other dependencies.” he said. “This success of New Zealand’s effort would not have been possible without the logistic support of the United States, who has met all our requests for transport into the field in Antarctica. “It must have been a proud moment for those at Scott Base who saw the first R.N.Z.A.F. Hercules arrive in Antarctica on the Christ-church-McMurdo sound service. For three years up until 1960 New Zealand had their own logistic support of field parties with the R.N.Z.A.F. flight operating from Scott Base. It is to be hoped there will be more Hercules flights next summer and the reintroduction of R.N.Z.A.F. flights within Antarctica would greatly assist our field projects,” said Mr Willett. History Of Area “Another contributing factor to the success of New Zealand Antarctic research programme field parties is the history of the areas given to those going south by Mr L. Quartermain, of the Antarctic division, D.S.I.R. Not only is Mr Quartermain fully conversant with the history of literature available on the Antarctica, but he knows the specific areas that scientific field parties intend visiting,” said Mr Willett “Because of the regular summer season flights to Antarctica scientists have been able to spare the minimum of

time from their work in New Zealand to join field parties in the Ross Dependency. Also many younger scientists can get to the area, where both the challenge of work and environment simply and quickly sorts the men from the boys,” said Mr Willett. In the McMurdo Sound area friendships have grown between United States and New Zealand scientists, and this has in some cases led to New

Zealanders receiving postings overseas for further studies. Also, on their way through New Zealand many United States scientists have taken an interest in our country’s work and remained, or returned later, to extend their particular fields of interest. This, Mr Willett claims, is one of the many great benefits New Zealand science has gained through participation in Antarctic research.