Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th., 1933. ANTARCTIC FLIGHT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 August 1933, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th., 1933. ANTARCTIC FLIGHT.

to its gecgrtiphical position. New Zealand is specially interestod in Antarctic exploration, if unable to promote her own ventures in ibis respect. A Dominion port is the last touch with civilisation expeditions have in this half of Ilie Antarctic, and this creates a bond of sentiment with the gallant explorers. There is also a subsidiary commercial side, as a fair amount of money is expended in the Dominion by 1 ho promoters of these research organisations. Good wishes will, therefore, be general in this country for the success of the Ellsworth expedition, which, towards the end of the year, is to seek io solve those Antarctic problems remaining. If modern aerial ventures lack' the glamour of the Scott and Amundsen explorations of the unknown, they still demand a high degree of courage and resource. When success is attained, it appears that the task' was easv, hut the chance

of fatal failure is never remote.

Byrd and Wilkins have flown over the Poles, and with the benefit of their knowledge and experience, there is no apparent reason why Ellsworth should not succeed in his mission, which will be more ambitions, and. probably, more risky. A forced landing in such regions is not pleasant to conjecture. and it speaks volumes for the character of Ellsworth, who not only uses his great wealth for scientific research, but undertakes personally, the onerous duties. Airmen have accomplished so many victories of late, including flying over Everest summit, travelling nearly 6000 miles without a stop, and instituting regular services over great distances, that nothing they do next, will surprise the world. Every now and again, some tragedy, or other reminds mankind that safety is not .yet guaranteed, and tliat. it needs special qualities to make a loading aviator. In no case will this requirement bo more necessary than in the flight over the unknown, inhospitable. lonely Antarctic area, and it is to be hoped that the best of luck will accompany the Ellsworth expedition.

The meteorological knowledge that may be obtained from these flights may prove of enormous value to farmers and others in New Zealand and elsewhere, and this alone is sufficient answer to those who question whether such exploration is worth while. It is a little to be regretted that British enterprise in the Antarctic is not so prominent,i of late, as in earlier days, but it can be justly claimed that Britain has done her part, already. Moreover, Sir Hubert Wilkins is an Australian, thus the Empire will have a direct share in the glory that may be won. by the latest effort to solve Antarctic riddles. As . with the Byrd expedition, wireless reports should daily keep the Ellsworth explorers in touch with civilisation. Their progress will be followed with keen interest, and if complete success is attained, and another heroic chapter added to the annals of aerial history, there will be no more sincere congratulations to the explorers than those from New Zealand.