‘Antarctic control at stake’

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 6

‘Antarctic control at stake’

Control of. the Antarctic was at stake in the Falkland Islands dispute, a visiting peer and authority on the islands said in Christchurch yesterday. - This was a much wider problem than the question of, whether Falklanders wanted to be British or Argentinian, said Lord Shackleton, who recommended recently that Britain invest up to S7OM in the islands during the next five years. Lord Shackleton, the son of the Antarctic

explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. recently updated a report oh the islands which he wrote six years ago. The Argentinians wanted control of a much wider area than the Falkland Islands, he said. He hoped for a satisfactory international solution to the dispute, because it was uncertain whether Britain would remain a world Power and retain its hold on the Falklands. The money he recom-

mended should be invested there was needed for farming and roads. An expensive airfield was needed, and more should be spent on fisheries’ development. He had made many recommendations six years ago, but these had not been carried out. He was not confident his recent suggestions would be acted upon, he said. Lord Shackleton is in New Zealand as chairman'of Anglesey Aluminium, and has

visited the Tiwai Point smelter. Yesterday he visited the Canterbury Museum’s Antarctic exhibition. On display were many items from the exploration days of his father. Lord Shackleton said he was nine when his father died and he hardly remembered him; While inspecting an early motor sledge designed by his father. Lord Shackleton, who is also an adventurer, said: “I prefer dogs, because you can eat them if necessary.”