Antarctic Week civic night

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33051, 19 October 1972, Page 18

Antarctic Week civic night

Some excellent music from the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet band and the premiere of the German-made film “Antarctica—Continent for Science” were for many the highlights of the Antarctic Week civic evening in the Christchurch Town Hall last night. The band provided selections from the music of Burt Bacharach and several film themes of a quality not before heard in the Town Hall. Each of the three main speakers emphasised the importance of international cooperation in the pursuit of scientific knowledge on the continent and of the significance of the Antarctic Treaty as a model for such peaceful international co-operative efforts. The superintendent of the

Antarctic division of the D.S.I.R. (Mr R. B. Thomson) spoke of the changes that had taken place on the continent, in terms of science and support activities, since the last Antarctic Week was held in Christchurch. Next month New Zealand will be host to the Antarctic Treaty conference for the first time. Mr Thomson announced that over the next two or three years Scott Base would be completely rebuilt. It was originally built to be occupied for 18 months and was the last remaining of the old International Geophysical Year stations.

Mr G. A. Llano, of the National Science Foundation, described the aims of the American Antarctic research programme, which was the foundation’s largest research investment in the southern hemisphere. Since 1958 some 15,000 American scientists had worked in the Antarctic.

He said that he heard yesterday that Congress had approved almost s2om for

three Hercules for Antarctic service. The commander of the United States Navy Antarctic support force (Captain A. N. Fowler) spoke of the challenges in the logistic operation. He suggested that the use of computers and satellites should in the future further improve the economics, efficiency and over-all safety of the operation. He referred to the cooperation which existed between the New Zealanders and the Americans. A message from the American Ambassador in New Zealand (Mr K. Franzheim) was relayed by Captain D. Lane, the defence attache at the United States Embassy in Wellington. "Nothing could better demonstrate the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty than the efforts of our two nations working together in common bond or scientific investigation. The United States is pleased to participate in this Antarctic Week which offers an unparalleled opportunity to bring to each and every

New Zealand citizen the story of our unique partnership in Antarctic research,” said Mr Franzheim’s message. Cr W. Massey represented the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr N. G. Pickering) who was unable to be present. Guests were welcomed by Major J. Barker, the leader at Scott Base last year, who also introduced each of the guest speakers. Mr A. Anderson, the president of the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society, announced the four winners of the Antarctic essay competition. They were: Maureen O’Rourke and Janine Mayson (Villa Maria College), Mervyn Duffy (St Bede’s College), and Peter Wetherall (Burnside High School). Each of the four was called to the stage and presented with a copy of “South” by Mr Massey. They will also be invited to have a short flight in a Navy Hercules in the next day or two.