AUSTRALIA EXPEDITION ORGANISED

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1929, Page 6

AUSTRALIA EXPEDITION ORGANISED

— SIR DOUGLAS AIAWSOX LEADER. SYDNEY. February 22. Tt seems apparent that the fortunes which have been made from whaling by the Norwegian expeditions of recent years is one of the main reasons prompting the scientific expedition to Antarctica announced by the Prime .Minister at Canberra this week. Sir Douglas Afawson has agreed to lead the expedition, and the Britisth Government has placed the ship Discovery at the disposal of the Commonwealth without charge. It is intended that.the expedition will begin its work in the Antarctic summer season, extending from November, 1929, to March, 1930. In making the announcement the Prime Minister. Air Bruce ■ i:d that in view of the fact that the Discovery would he available without charge, the only expense to the Commonwealth of Australia would be chtelly in the purchase of equipment. Necessary expenditure .was estimated ;it £16,000. and the New Zealand Ministry bad agreed to co-operate, to tbe extent ’ ol £2500. The special interest ol Australia in tlie Antarctic region lay, in tbe area from tlie Ross Sea, on the east, to Endorby Land, in tbe west. I bat portion was generally known as the Australian sector, and the Aliiiistry. had been considering Uor several years the arrangement of a scientific expedition to follow tip the work undertaken by the Alawson expedition in 1911.

The expedition will seek lo eflect a variety of objects. The exploration and mapping of that part ol the coastline which the earlier Alawson party had been unable to complete would be undertaken, scientific and meteorological work- would be carried out and ilives ligation made into.,the economic resources of tbe region. The location ol the coastline was of material import a nee to Australia. The expedition therefore, would carry, , out hydrographic survey work, including the correct location and charting of coasts islands, rocks and shoals. For inland surveys the expedition would be equipped with aeroplanes. The. slu«l'would be made of • meteorological conditions would enable the relationship between them and the climate of Australia to be more adequately determined. Ho made only a passing reference to the whaling question, though this is known to bo one ol the main reasons fur the expedition. Investiga tion into the lamia —chiefly whales and seals—of the region would he another important duty,'was the wav be put if to Parliament.