COSTLY EXPEDITION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1922, Page 15

COSTLY EXPEDITION

MANDATED TERRITORY EXPLORATION. (FROM OUK OWN COKRiSFONDINT.) SYDNEY, 19th July. > Thte expedition, l«d by Dr. Campbell Brown, which started out with a great flourish of trumpets two years ago to explore the mandated territory of New Guinea, has been the subject of much comment. Despite the curiosity of Federal members and other interested parties, a full account of the doinga of the expedition has never been, forthcoming. Certain members of the party returned to Australia, before they had been long in New Guinea. An interim report by Dr. Campbell Brown, who returned to Sydney last year, is now in possession of the Prim* Minister's Department, and will be considered by Cabinet this. week. Dr. Brown states that the party endured great hardships during- several weeks spent in a, cannibal country. From the time of the appointment of the expedition on Ist October, 1920, considerable mystery has surrounded the work of the party. In the House of Representatives in May of the following year, the then 1 Acting-Pf jme Minister ("Sir Joseph. Cook) said that ihe did not know .whether the expedition was' 'lost, stolen, or strayed." The appointment of the expedition was completed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) personally, members of Cabinet afterwards stating that they knew nothing about it until the announcement was made. The party was provided with complete wireless sets and a motor launch, in addition to other equipment incidental to a tjrip through o tropical country. / It is understood that the Prime Minister believed that the cost wonld be £10,000, and, although Dr. Brown has made claims greatly exceeding that amount, they have not been granted, pending consideration by the Government.