NEW ZEALAND IN THE ANTARCTIC.

Northern Advocate, 25 February 1925, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND IN THE ANTARCTIC.

FAVOURITISM ALLEGED. SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON'S THEORY. Sir Douglas Mawson, the noted Antarctic explorer, made an important statement recently at Adelaide, brief mention of which was made in the Press cables, in regard to conflicting New Zealand and Australian claims to territorial jurisdiction in the Antactic. Sir Douglas Mawson's statement is somewhat startling, in view of the fact that New Zealand undertook jurisdiction of her only Antarctic territory, the Ross Dependency, at the express request of the British Government, as intimated by the Prime Minister, when announcing the Dominion's acquiescence in Parliament last session.

After dealing with the discovery of the Antarctic continent, and the raising of the Australian flag by the

which Sir Douglas was a member, he says: "In the year 1920, wlien the territorial future of the Antarctic regions was under discussions, between the Australasian Governments and the Colonial Office, my opinion was sought by the Prime Minister's Department. I strongly urged Australia should at least claim, and be allocated, that portion of the Antarctic lands due south of Australia. Nothing decisive appears to have been done in favour of Australia, but New Zealand secured regions south of it. Every ar-. gument of precedent and of international right favoured Austr-xlia holding jurisdiction over the region south of Australia, including Adelie Land. "I am at a loss to explain wiry Australia was not accorded eqiuu treatment with New Zealand. ''Franco has conducted very little exploration south of Australia. •She has specialised in the Pacific Antarctic coasts, south of Cape Horn. plMims there, based

on occupation and exploration, butsouth of Iverguelen a promising Antarctic region is theirs by reason of the situation south of an already existing French settlement, .following a rule already long accepted in connection with unoccupied North Polar lands. In the interests of all, France should drop the claim to lands south of Australia, and concentrate 011 the region south of Kerguelen. This action of France is very unfortunate, especially as it follows upon the very unsatisfactory relations existing in regard to British and French claims and administration in the New Hebrides. ''