SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22619, 6 January 1937, Page 10

SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON NO EXPLORATION IN ViiEW The well-known explorer, Sir E'ouglai Mawson, accompanied by his daughter, Miss P. Mawson, arrived in Wellington by the Awatea from Sydney. Sir Douglas is the outgoing president of the Australian and New Zealand Associa*. tion for the Advancement of Science, and his primary object in visiting the Dominion is to attend the congress of the association, which opens in Auckland on January 12 and will continue for a week. Sir Douglas said that after the congress the visiters would disperse, and many hoped to see as much of New Zealand as possible in the time available to them. "Most scientists are interested in such things as New Zealand has to show," said Sir Douglas in an interview-. "I have been invited to have a preliminary view, before the congress opens, of so:aie of the hot springs and volcanoes, and with others am to be piloted by Dr. P. Marshall. We are leaving this morning direct for Wanganui, and -will work our way up to Auckland in time for the opening of the congress. One of the places I shall be visiting is Mayor Island. Af'.'er the conference ] shall return to Wellington, and will be in New Zealand a month or more. "I am particularly interested, and have been for many years, in some of the hydro-electric possibilities in New Zealand, and I hope to look further into them wliile 1 am here." In reply 'to a question, Sir Douglas said he had no big exploration trips in view. "We are busy publishing reports," lie said. "A lot of. them are in the press' just now." Sir Douglas re* ferred particularly to one report dealing with the birds of Antarctica and sub-Antarctica, the .work of the New Zealand ornithologist, Mr. P. A. Falla. The report was, a fine one, said Sir Douglas, arid should be of special interest to New Zealanders, as it dealt with many birds seen in and around New Zealand itself. Sir Douglas, added that he i:s to be succeeded :is president of the Austraiian and New Zealand Association for the Ad vancement of Science by Sir David Rivett, who is the chief executive officer of the Bureau of Science and Industry in Australia.