ARCTIC EXPEDITION

Southland Times, Issue 19822, 19 March 1926, Page 8

ARCTIC EXPEDITION

NEW ZEALAND MEMBERS PRAISE FOR COMMANDER WORSLEY “WE OWE OUR LIVES TO HIM” (Per United p rraa Association.) Auckland, March 18. One -Of the two New Zealanders who were members of the British Arctip expedition last year and who hoisted the flag of this Dominion as far north as it had ever been taken, arrived in Auckland this morning by the Waimana from Southhampton. This was Mr Gordon Burt, of Dunedin, a member of the firm of Messrs A. and T. Burt, and a son of Mr T. Burt, who died in July, 1925. . The other New Zealander concerned in. the exploit was Commander Frank Worsley, of Christchurch, the famous explorer, who commanded the expedition. Mr Burt went on the expedition as chief engineer on The Island, a bringantinerigged ship with 100 horse-power engine. The expedition was started originally as the Algarsson North Pole Expedition and it was intended to make a flight to the Pole. However, proper arrangements could not be made and the venture was turned into a scientific expedition and re-named. Commander Worsley was in charge and Captain Algarsson accompanied the members. Mr Burt, at the time that he accepted the position of chief engineer, was studying for a degree of engineering at Liverpool University. A glowing tribute to the manner in which Commander Worsley conducted the expedition was paid by Mr Burt. We owe him our lives and the ship to his wonderful personality and skilful navigation,” he stated. “As for the cabled reports that were sent out regarding the trouble between Captain Algarsson and Commander Worsley, these were nothing more than a lot of nonsense. All that happened was that we chose Commander Worsley as our leader when the ship was in the utmost difficulty north of Spitzbergen. We know he was the most capable man to take charge when our lives were in danger, and so did Captain Algarsson, who was only to pleased to see him at the head of things.” Mr Burt, who travelled to England from Spitzbergen in the Ameland, a Dutch steamer which took him right through the marvellous Norwegian Fiords, said that Commander Worsley expected to come to New Zealand shortly.