POLAR EXPLORATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19214, 31 December 1925, Page 9

POLAR EXPLORATION.

EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTIC. CAPTAIN WSLKINB' INTENTION TO LEAVE FROM NEW ZEALAND. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. NEW YORK, Dec. 29. The Australian Press Association interviewed Captain G. H. YVilkins, the ex p'ora - . Ho states that his association with the Detroit Arctic expedition does not mean that he has abandoned the plans for his Antarctic and Pacific expedition, on which he will leave from Now Zealand about October, 1926, as he expects that the Arctic work will be completed before then. All the profits he is able! to save from the Arctic expedition will be used in connection with his later expedition. The aeroplane he uses for his Arctic flight will afterwards be used in the Antarctic. It will take the place of Cap- ! tain Amundsen's machine, N25, for which he negotiated, but which he failed to secure owing to lack of financial support in Australia. Mr. Stefansson, in an interview, stated that the Arctic flight will be of great benefit to Captain Wilkins' future work in demonstrating that polar air conditions are no worse, and are possibly better, than elsewhere, and that the Poles are not barren, ice-covered wj#stes. Explorers have long known this, but it was necessary actually to demonstrate the fact to convince the public in order to arouse interest arid support for further exploration and development of the regions.