ANTARCTIC LURE.

Evening Star, Issue 22336, 12 May 1936, Page 8

ANTARCTIC LURE.

Pahticularlt during winter it should be difficult to convince the average person that there is anything attractive in polar exploration. But leaders of expeditions who have experienced the long Antarctic night never seem to have anv compunction about returning again and again to the scene of their hardships. One can only conclude, therefore, that frigid wastes cast oyer explorers a spell that is not to be resisted when the slightest opportunity to proceed southwards presents itself. Prominent victims of the Antarctic lure arc New Zealand’s two American visitors. Admiral Byrd and Mr Lincoln Ellsworth. We had been under the impression that the latter, after his successful 2,000-inile flight last year across the quadrant between the Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea, had decided to spend the whole of his remaining years in wanner climes. A cable which is published to-day, however, discloses in Mr Ellsworth a speedy recurrence of the irresistible urge that periodically removes him from civilisation. It was his future pilot, Mr Harold June, who, speaking at the annual dinner of the British Veterans’ Association of Rhode Island, revealed the intentions of his leader and himself. The pair are planning a joint expedition in the hope ol finding what is thought to be the last remaining continent in the world—an area which they presume to be about one-third the size of Australia, and which lies on a straight line through the South Pole from Little America. Their purpose in visiting this ice-bound land is at the moment rather obscure. It or areas precisely similar have already been fairly well covered by the dog sledge parties of Scott, Shackletou, and Amundsen, and by Admiral Byrd on his flight in 1929. It was on the Hying occasion, incidentally, that Mr June distinguished himself as a polar aviator. For that reason and others he should be of the greatest service to Mr Ellsworth on the next venture.

Beyond adding that Mr Ellsworth and Mr June hope to claim the new continent for the United States, a potentially successful achievement which should cause no serious international repercussions, tho cable tells us little. As in the case of previous expeditions, it is hard to discern how practical results are to be forthcoming. The exploitation of the Antarctic continent as a source of mineral wealth seems still a fanciful dream. As far as Australia and New Zealand are concerned, the best that can be hoped for is that valuable contributions will be added to the scientific data already collected, and that these will be of more than passing interest to tho meteorologist, lb may be surmised, however, that the new partnership will concern itself to some extent with determining the exact formation of the land in Antarctica. In the past there have been differences oi opinion. In 1934 Sir Hubert Wilkins said he found indications which led him to believe that the greater part of the Ross Sea quadrant of the Antarctic Circle—an area of nearly 1,000,000 square miles—was not covered by a solid land mass, as had been believed up to that time, but that it was actually composed of a group of scattered islands. Possibly it is his adherence to this contention that is impelling him to set forth on the submarine expedition, preliminary news of which was recently published. On the other hand, Admiral Byrd is convinced that land runs nnbrokenly from the Antarctic coast to the South Pole, and that tho so-called trnnsantarctic strait (supposed to he present, according to Sir Hubert Wilkins, on at least portion of the Ross Sea. quadrant) was nonexistent. In view of the prevailing geographical uncertainty, it would appear that there are still corroborative observations’ to be made in the South Polar regions. 'Doubtless Mr Ellsworth has some such object in mind. Whether or not ho succeeds iu furnishing definite information there should he no hesitation in expecting from him all those lessons in courage a_nd fortitude which have characterised his past oxplojat*Qoa«

The sale of the Auzac Commemorative Stamps is still progressing satisfactorily, and sales arc now becoming more steady, the majority of philatelists having bought their supplies. The present demand is from the general public. The Returned Soldiers’ Association’s special envelope is still meeting with a large demand, and sales now total tho large figure of 103,500 envelopes.

'The Labour Parly held a caucus this morning for final discussion of the measure under which Mr Semple (Minister of Transport) will have wider powers of control, including the final authority for the licensing of commercial aircraft.—Parliamentary correspondent.

Tho express for the north carried a heavy load this morning. Apart from the usual activity created by the school vacations, there was a party of about DO West Coast farmers on board. This party, which has been touring the country districts of Otago and Southland. arrived in Dunedin from Cromwell last night, and to-day went on to visit Christchurch and Lincoln College, its members were accompanied in the southern tour by Air W. Roberts, the railway business agent at Invercargill, who was made a. presentation at the •station this morning in appreciation of his services. The Otago University Rugby team also travelled by this train to Christchurch to play tho annual match with Canterbury College to-mor-row.

The late delivery of the ‘ Star ’ to many subscribers in the Mornington district last evening, causing a good deal of inconvenience, was the result of the theft of papers from a runner’s depot. Thefts of papers have been frequent recently, and business folk should he wary of youths with copies of waste paper for sale.

In order to further among its members a practical knowledge and insight into the actual technique of modern economic and industrial processes, the Otago branch of the New Zealand Institute of Public Administration has planned a series of visits to various Government departments and private manufacturing concerns. The first of such series Was a visit by a party of members of the institute to the Railway Workshops at Hillside. The party was broken up into a number of small groups, and under the guidance of an official was conducted through each department of the workshops, the guide explaining in detail the nature of the various processes. As the visit took place in working hours, the party had the advantage of seeing all plant and machinery in actual operation. AH were greatly impressed with the highly up-to-date character of the equipment, which affords an excellent proof that those responsible for the management have kept fully abreast of the latest developments in more highly industrialised countries overseas, and, in this sphere of economic life, have built up a very important secondary industry.

An increase in its levy from £12,432 to £23,134 is proposed by the Christchurch Tramways Board, which yesterday adopted a resolution to impose a general rate of ~1481 d in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property in its district. In moving the adoption of tho resolution, the chairman, Mr J. K. Archer, said the rate was necessary to cover an estimated deficiency of £23,134 in the board’s requirements for the year ending March 31, 1937. The increase on last year’s deficiency was £10,902, but of this sum £9,135 would be absorbed in increased wage payments, showing that the board was making a sincere effort to improve tho working conditions of its employees. Mr Savage announced after a Cabinet meeting yesterday that, on account of the large volume of business to he transacted by Cabinet at its meetings, ho has given instructions that when the House is sitting no deputations are to be received by Ministers on Mondays and Saturdays, which are the days generally available for such meetings.— Press Association.

The removal of the name plates from the doors of Mr Nash (Minister of Finance) and Mr Armstrong (Minister of Labour) in Parliament Buildings ,is hold in parliamentary circles to indicate the appointment of Mr Nash as Minister of Marketing as well as Minister of Finance and Customs. In the case of Mr Armstrong, his title of Minister of Employment has been abolished under the Employment Promotion Act, and he will be known in future as the Minister of Labour.— Press Association.

In the Supreme Court, Christchurch, to-day, Colin Rodric Mundy pleaded guilty to supplying a noxious thing with intent, and was remanded on bail for sentence. True bills were returned against Archibald John Templcman, ol Ashburton, charged with selling liquor without a license, and Ruebene Shirley, on three counts of illegally using an instrument.—Press Association.

The 38ft keel yacht Anahera, owned hy Mr Norman Hamon, was destroyed hy fire early on Sunday morning after having been hauled up for the winter on the hanks of the Tamaki River, a quarter of a mile below the Panmuro Bridge (says an Auckland Press Association telegram). It was built in 1893 at Devonport. and raced successfully in both the Waitemata and Manukau Harbours.

The final Poppy Day returns make a record total of £592 10s 3d for New Plymouth district.—Press Association. The membership of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association at March 31 was 26,828, compared with 2-1,451 last year and 21,640 in 1934. Four hours after tlie Monowai sailed from Auckland for Sydney on May 1 Victor Gustav Blucher, aged 29, a labourer, was found in a drunken sleep in a cabin occupied by a well-known aviator. Blucher was not allowed to land in Sydney, and on the ship’s ieturn yesterday was arrested and charged with being a stowaway. In dismissing the charge this morning, Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., said: “I he whole circumstances do not lead mo to believe that Blucher purposely secreted himself on tike.ship to go to Sydney. The element of intention seems to bo lacking.”—Auckland Press Association.

To the accompaniment of a very brassy band, vociferous cheers, and a nailing rendering of what resembled ‘ The Last Post,’ the gun from the Oval ended a safe journey at Knox College this afternoon, and the master (Dr E. N. Merrington) was handed at the entrance to the college a miniature toy gun, presented by a student representative, who assured the recipient “that the college was not the bed of pacifism it was reputed to bo.” Dr Merrington, entering into the spirit of tho function, broadcast to his select assembly of listeners the pacifist exhortation about “sticking to their guns,” and suggested that this student acquisition he taken to Scdwyn College. At present the gun is stationed outside the main entrance, draped with a taterod Union Jack.

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