ANTARCTIC’S FUTURE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 21 (Supplement)

ANTARCTIC’S FUTURE

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT. SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON’S PROPHECY. Sir Douglas Mawson, in his presidential address to the Science Congress in Melbourne, gave a facinating review of the commercial prospects of the Antarctic! Summer cruises. along the pack ice, snow sports, fur farming and the generation of almost unlimited electrical power from the wind were among the developments he prophesised for this area of the world which is so important to Australia and New Zealand. “Of what use is Antarctica to be to mankind?” asked Sir Douglas Mawson. “What role is it to occupy in human affairs? That will depend very much upon whether it is merely exploited for what it offers at the moment and then left forever 1 desolate, or whether it is to be' brought under some system of wise control and development. If the latter is to be achieved, Antarctica cannot be left a ‘no man’s land.’ It must be secured under authority, competent and able to impose restrictive regulations. Tlris means government, and, as there are at present no human inhabitants, some external Government or Governments are required to exercise jurisdiction over Antarctica. Obviously, the fewer Governments the better. “It is obvious that unified control under a British inter-imperial administration would be the most certain to procure ultimate benefaction for the territory. However, it may be that other nations may feel disposed to press claims to a share in the onus of administration of the still unclaimed sectors of Antarctica. Contiguous British domains have laid claim in recent years to a considerable portion of the land areas, and rightly so, for not only has Great Britain played a leading part in the discovery of Antarctica, but her proximate lands are geographically in a better position to administer control in development. There remains two unclaimed sectors. One is south of the Atlantic Ocean, a region which extends for 1,000,000 square miles, and in which the , Norwegians are keenly interested. The other is south of the Pacific Ocean, an area of 600,000 square miles, where Rear-admiral Byrd had made important discoveries and had raised the flag of the United States on one portion. “The immediate prospects of commercial development in Antarctica are centred in the fisheries, and whaling is in the ascendant just now,” Sir Douglas Mawson said. “Since 1905 more than 300,000 whales have been taken in Antarctic waters, producing products valued at more than £70,000,000. Although restrained by the present period of world depression, the boom continues, and rich cargoes are returned each year. This rich industry could be perpetuated for all time if more adequate international control was established. Australia and New Zealand have been, well in the front rank in the exploration of the Antarctic but they have not so far participated in the economic development of the Antarctic fisheries. Geographically they are better suited to participate in this development than almost any other country in the world. Within 1320 geographical miles of Hobart lies one of the important whaling grounds of the Antarctic seas. Another extremely rich whaling area lies due south of Albany. In fact, probably the richest whaling region of the world lies adjacent to Australia. “As a winter sports ground for diversion in summer, Antarctica would be a thrill to Australians, but by our present modes of travel it is rather too distant to be likely to be thus useful for a long time to come. But I see no reason to delay the despatch from our ports of modern liners on summei pleasure cruises among the pack ice. “There would be no difficulty in establishing land ■ settlement at a few favoured spots along the coast, provided that commercial developments could offer Sufficient inducements.. Thus, should reasonably rich mineral aeposits be discovered in accessible localities, there need be no delay in working them. “Another* feature of some sections of Antarctic coastline which may in time be turned to account is the continuous gales of wind, year in, year out, descending from the ice plateau of the hinterland. We found the northward-moving air along the coast of Adelie Land to have an average velocity of about 50 miles an hour. To have to live in such a climate is, of course, a most unenviable lot, but those of us who have done so have not failed to be impressed with the vast amount of energy represented by those air currents and available to man. It is, of course, a secondary form of solar energy, but so disposed as to be easily convertible to electricity. Owing to the high velocity of those winds, it would be possible, by only a limited installation of staunchly constructed wind generators, to harness a considerable amount of energy. In. the present state of electrical science, such power could not be exported as current, but it might be converted to saleable commodities. Some day, therefore, there may be thus produced for export products of atmospheric nitrogen and similar power-consuming manufactures. “I visualise that before long operations will be conducted from Australia and New Zealand into the southern regions, much after the plan of the Hudson's Bay Company. There will be isolated shore posts where a few individuals will reside the year round, collecting seal products and penguin eggs, Ss well as fish products of various kinds. They might also take the opportunity to breed Arctic white foxes, for which the climate should be suitable, and for which an abundance of meat should be available from seal and penguin carcasses. Such fur farming, both from the subAntarctic islands and the Antarctic mainland, is sure to develop sooner or later, primarily because of the abundance of suitable food available at no cost whatever. The shore stations would be linked with whaling operations. The whaling craft, in addition to obtaining cargoes for whale products, would make it their business annually to visit the Shore stations, bringing stores and transporting the .trade to market. Such a system of exploitation should not be long delayed. These Antarctic- territories are important, and our respective Governments should take the necessary steps to preserve and develop this inheritance.”