ANTARCTIC SOCIETY

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 3 November 1933, Page 5

ANTARCTIC SOCIETY

INAUGURAL MEETING HELD MOVE TO SECURE DISCOVERY (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The inaugural meeting 'of the New Zealand Antarctic Society to-night was largely attended. The chairman (Mr A. Leigh Hlunt) suggested that in addition to interesting itself in the natural history of the Antarctic and the expeditions to it the society should endeavour to secure for the Dominion Captain Scott’s old ship Discovery as an ocean surrey and training ship and a relief vessel for any southern expedition.

He stated that the Discovery was owned by the Falkland- Islands Government, which now had no further use for her, and she was lying idle in London.

It wa.s also suggested that'the -society should' advocate the- establishment of meteorological stations in southern lands. Mr Hunt stated that Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South America might all contribute to the cost of these stations, which would enable early forecasts of weather to be made.

The following officers of the society were elected: Patrons 1 , Sir Douglas Mawson, Rear-Admiral Byrd, Admiral Evans; vice-patrons, Mr G. W. Forbes, Mr J. G. Coates, Sir Frederick Chapman, Sir Joseph Kinsey; president, Mr Justice 'Obtler; vice-presidents, Mrs Ferrar, Messrs Rl. Simmers and R. A. Fall; council, Messrs W. B. Oliver, A. A. Kirk, F. S. Pope, L. B. Quartermain, A. E. Mabin, J. Pearce Luke, A. J. Toogood, B. L. Donne, A. Leigh Hunt, Dr. Graham Robertson, Mr D. J. Henderson, Captain P ( . Whiteford, Miss E. M. Black, Mesdames K. Preston, G. B. Wilson; secretary, Mr C. E. Collins; lantern operators, Messrs A. J. Bland and E...J. Hubbard.