Ross Sea Committee’s “Legacy” For Research

Press, Volume C, Issue 29498, 27 April 1961, Page 20

Ross Sea Committee’s “Legacy” For Research

(Wew Zratand Press Association)

WELLINGTON. April 26. The Rosa Sea Committee, established in 1955 to organise New Zealand’s participation in the historic 1957-58 Trans-Antarctic expedition, has voted itself out of existence but it has left a legacy to encourage future Antarctic exploration and research. In a statement after its final meeting on Monday, the chairman (Mr C. M. Bowden* said the committee and its counterpart in London has agreed to establish a TransAntarctic Association, to which all remaining funds would be transferred.

"Funds available include about £34.000 from royalties on publications, lectures and the official film of the expedition,” he said. “This will form the nucleus of a fund to be administered by the association with the aim of encouraging further efforts by Commonwealth countries in the fields of Antarctic exploration, research and education.

“Only projects organised or developed in Commonwealth countries, or in which Commonwealth nations take part, will be eligible for support from the fund." he said. “New Zealand will be entitled to one-third of the funds available every year and to the full amount if that is generally agreed. The fund will be administered in three-year cycles. If any part of the money available to New Zealand or the United Kingdom is not taken up at the end of three years it will be returned to the general fund and a new three-year cycle will commence. "Applications from New Zealand parties seeking

assistance will first be submitted to an advisory committee in Wellington, comprising Mr F. H. Corner (Department of External Affairs), Dr. E. I. Robertson (Department of Scientific and Industrial Research), Professor L. R. Richardson (Royal Society of New Zealand). Dr. R. A. Falla (New Zealand Antarctic Society). Mr H. E. Riddiford (Federation Mountain Chibs of New Zealand) and Sir Edmund Hillary, leader of the New Zealand expedition. Mr A. S. Helm, who has been secretary of the Ross Sea Committee since its inception in 1955, will continue as secretary to the advisory committee. “Application! approved by this committee will then be forwarded to the new association’s committee of management in London. The management committee will consist of five members, including two (Mr J. V. Scott and Dr. R. Scott-Russell—-nominated by the New Zealand advisory committee, and a chairman to be jointly decided by the New Zealand committee and its United Kingdom counterpart