Scott Base hospitality

Press, 18 February 1986, Page 12

Scott Base hospitality

Mr K. 0. Clegg, information Officer of the Antarctic Division, D.5.1.R., Christchurch, explains the treatment accorded members of private expeditions who visited Scott' Base in the last year.

The Antarctic Division of the D.S.I.R, and its director, Mr Bob Thomson, have in recent weeks been subjected to severe criticism over the alleged manner in which members of two private expeditions were treated at Scott Base.

Two members of the 1985-86 New Zealand Antarctic Research Programme have been responsible for disseminating to New Zealand news media their views on the issue. In the process, for whatever reason, there has been a distortion of facts and the time has come to put the record straight.

Seemingly not appreciated is the fact that for almost 30 years New Zealand’s activities in Antarctica have been held in the highest regard, both nationally and internationally, and Scott Base has become well known for its warm hospitality.

Always, throughout this period there has been a set of rules governing visits by any person to the base and indeed a policy regarding tourists and private expeditions was introduced as early as 1968. Regardless of whether the rules have been adhered to or not, the fact remains that no person has ever

been refused admission to Scott Base. The reason for some restriction on visits to the base is quite simple. Scott Base has limited accommodation and resources, while at nearby McMurdo Station the population pushes to some 1200 during the height of the summer season with additional numbers on board icebreakers, resupply and tourist ships. Thus Scott Base could easily be swamped by mass visits at any one time. The rules, which have not changed significantly, have been fully appreciated and responded to by all Americans, New Zealanders, tourists and private expeditioners over the years. In the case of the Footsteps of Scott expedition, and this is very relevant to the New Zealand reputation for hospitality, during the winter of 1985, members of this expedition enjoyed over 100 meals at Scott Base and further, some 40 bed nights were made available to them. Special telecommunication services, postal and telex services were also provided throughout the winter and the subsequent summer months. On the question of the Greenpeace helicopter visit,

despite only eight minutes notice of their impending arrival at Scott Base, they were, upon landing on unsafe sea-ice, directed to safe ground and invited into the base. They were served coffee and the facilities of the Scott Base Post Office were made available to them.

This included the purchase of $llO of stamps and the processing of three pillowcases of philatelic mail containing many hundreds of letters. In all, their visit was for a duration of some two-and-a-half hours after which they were politely requested to depart. Normal closing time for the Post Office is 6 p.m., but this time was extended to accommodate the visitors. So much for the allegation that they were “kicked out.”

For two former members of our Scott Base summer team to infer they were speaking for the entire base community in voicing their protests to the New Zealand media is a presumption. The resulting negative publicity of recent weeks has come at the conclusion of a highly successful scientific programme, but has been a shattering blow to many who have devoted years of work to Antarctic research.

Certainly, our concern now is to allow the 12-member winter team at Scott Base to settle in without further disruption and prepare for the tasks ahead of them.