Costly Expedition.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 August 1922, Page 1

Costly Expedition.

MANDATED TERRITORY EXPLORATION.

SYDNEY, July 19.

The expedition, led by Dr Campbell Brown, which started out with a great flourish of trumpets two years ago to . explore the mandated territory of New Guinea, has’been’the subject of much comment. Despite tlie curiosity of Federal members and other interested parties, a full account of the doings of the expedition has never boon forthcoffing. Certain members of the party returned to Australia’ before they had been long in New Guinea. An interim report by Dr Campbell Brown, who returned to Sydney last year, is now in possession of the Prime Minister’s Department, and will lie considered by Cabinet this week. Dr Brown states that the party endured groat hardship during several weeks spent in cannibal country. From the time of the appointment of the expedition on October Ist, 1920, considerable mystery lias surrounded the work of the party. In the House of Representatives in May of the following year, the then Acting Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Cook), said that lie did not know whether the expedition was “lost, stolen or strayed.” The appointment of the expedition was completed by the Prime Minister (Mr Hughes) personally, members of Cabinet afterwards stating that they knew nothing about it until the announcement was made. The party was provided with complete wireless sets and a motor launch in addition to other equipment incidental to a trip through a tropical country. It is understood that the Prime Ahnister believed that the cost would be £IO,OOO, and although. Dr Brown has made claims greatly exceeding that amount, they have not been granted pending consideration l.y tl.o Gowmment.