Adult Education Seminar On The Antarctic

Press, Volume C, Issue 29514, 16 May 1961, Page 9

Adult Education Seminar On The Antarctic

New Zealand had not only a responsibility but a duty to continue her work in the Antarctic, said Mr G. W. Markham, superintendent of the Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, when giving an address at the weekend to about 30 members of a seminar on the Antarctic organised by the adult education department of the University of Canterbury. The seminar was opened by the Mayor (Mr G. Manning). “There are three reason o why New Zealand should continue her work in the Antarctic," said Mr Markham. “The Antarctic is right on our doorstep and therefore very significant to us. We have been an Antarctic country for some time, and it is our right and duty to speak on it. “New Zealand must adopt an adult attitude not only taking responsibility for land within our shores. “We have initiative and independence with which we are able to accomplish some things better than other countries. We also have enthusiasm, shown by the tact that I always get a flood of applications for field parties down there.” he said. The scientific work that New Zealand could do in the Antarctic was another reason for responsibility there, he said. On Saturday, Dr. B. Stonehouse, senior lecturer in zoology at the University of Canterbury, gave an address on the history of Antarctic exploration from the days of Cook, Palmer, Bransfield, and Bellingshausen to the heroic age of Scott, Shackleton, Amundsen, and Byrd. Glaciology, meteorology, and the ice-free areas of Antartica were described on Sunday by Mr A. J. Heine, a glaciologist in the Geological Survey. Mr R. Wheeler, leader of the Victoria University of Wellington's expedition last season, to the Koettlitz and Victoria dry valley areas, and Dr. J. F. Gabites, director of climatology research for the Meteorological Service. In the evening Dr. Stonehouse

spoke on the fauna and flora of the continent. Yesterday Mr J. S. Bullivant spoke on the oceans and marine life in Antarctica, and Mr G. Warren dealt with the geology of the continent.