THE RACE FOB, THE POLE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14238, 2 July 1910, Page 4

THE RACE FOB, THE POLE.

Only a short time ago " The Race for the Pole " meant iiie international endeavours to r&ack the North Pole. Now that this prize ha 3 fallen to a representative of American enterprise and daring, it means a race for the South Pole, in which there are at present- two competitors announced, British and American, with possibly another t-o make a'' post entry." Every Britisher feels that this prize ought to be won hv a Britisher; and probably most of them are prepared to believe that Captain Scott is th« man to win it. Aa Mr Kinsey, his enthusiastic representstive in Christ-church, said on Wednesdav, "Although wo uia-v aak ourselvea ' What is the use'r' we all wish. Captain Scott to reach the South Pole. Aa far as m.v own opinion goes, I feel that, if it. can be done by anyone, he is the man to do it. He has the physique and the determination, and lie can endure severe hardships. Officer* and ,-re\v "of the Discovery admitted that lie had greater powera of enduTEßa» tfinfr aiVf OXtS? «?jj

dition to tliose qualities, lie lias t-lie ex-] perienoe gained from his own previous expedition and from Sir Ernest Shackleton's exploration. There is a bet- i ter knowledge now of the work that I can bo dono by ponies, and great things j are expected from the evolution of Sir i Ernest Shackleton's niotor-cax, now a j motor-sledge. I hope that Captain | Scott will reach the Pole if only for ; tho sake of the prestige of tho British i nation, and in saying that I am merely expressing the feeling which is held in all parts of tho Empire. His own sentiment in regard to the question is that he must get there, if not at the first attempt, then at the second, and that the enterprise must not be relinquished until the Pole has been won. All who know Captain Scott know that he possesses the grit which has raised Britain to its position amongst the nations of the world, and there is no, doubt that if it is possible for human j beings to reach the Pole under the con-! ditions surrounding the fresh expedi- j tion, ho will reach it." If ho docs j succeed in reaching tho Pole, every j patriotic Britisher will be proud of it, I and New Zealanders certainly not least, j because from New Zealand the expedi- j tion will start, and to New Zealand i probably first return. The enterprise involves many and grave risks, even I under tho moat favourable circum-' stances possible the long journey over the polar ice must be an excessively arduous one, and those who are undertaking the journey deserve all the sup- j port and encouragement that can be j given them. In another column will j be found some hints as to tho manner j in which these can be given by people j of South Canterbury.