The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1929. POLAR EXPLORATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1929. POLAR EXPLORATION.

It seems evident that, in the near future, the Antarctic will be the scene of unprecedented, activity, for besides the Byrd Expedition, which is already there, and the Mawson Expedition, now en route, a third one is being organised in Norway. The average citizen may entertain some doubts concerning the benefits which may accure from the vast expenditure of money and energy, not to mention the enormous risk to life and limb, involved in the preparation and prosecution of these enterprises. If the sole aim of any of the expeditions was merely to reach the ; South Pole, certainly the expenditurerof. mopey, and perhaps olf life, that would be incurred would not be warranted however much the attainment of success in this direction would satisfy a certain popular demand for the sensational and the spectacular On the other, hand, if nn expedition sets out to make a scientific survey of a definite area of the world, and the effect is to add to the store of .human knowledge and to increase the power of adding to human comfort, a valuable service has been rendered by it. The Antarctic regions form says an exchange one of the most interesting fields in the world, for exploration. by the methods which modern invention has made possible, Almost everything south of latitude 43 degrees requires thorough investigation, both on land and bv sea. There is a tendency to lose sight of the importance of the ocean and its phenoma. The modern leviathan ploughs her way against and across currents, and through storm and calm, at a steady speed, and the passengers on -her decks probably know no more about tbo sea they are crossing than- they would if they were watch ing it from the balconv of*a palatial hotel, on shore. Nevertheless, our climate is materially affected by the very ocean currents which in the Antarctic regions, sweep round the globe from west to east unhindered by land. An accurate and systematic nowledge of these, currents and oif their effect on our climate would be of great benefit not only to navigators, . but also to farmers and other sections of the community. There is. an extensive field for oceanographic work in the southern seas about which so little is known. Scientists are not in agreement concerning the effect of the Antarctic

Continent itself on the climate of New Zealand. The Government Meteorologist maintains that the polar regions have no influence on our climate Other meteorologists and explorers hold that both the great ice-covered .continent and its encircling ring of pack ice must, owing to their extent and to their proximity to New Zealand have a marked effect on our climate. The exploration of the polar landmass may be said to have just begun,

for only some isolated parts of the edge have been explored and mapped Of the remainder we know nothing except what, has been discovered by explorers such as Scott, Shaekleton, arid Amundsen in their struggles to reach the Pole. Outcrops of coal have been found,, suggesting that, at Oiif time, the Antarctic continent was covered by a large population. It may be assumed that where plant life existed there also was animal life to

be found, and what further treasures of scientific or commercial value the Antarctic may hold within its frozen bosom it is very difficult to say. Although science has so far been able to accomplish. but little in this region it has already led the whalers to their hunting grounds. Who thpn can say what further commercial advantages may result from polar expeditions?