SECOND POLAR YEAR

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1931, Page 2

SECOND POLAR YEAR

NEW ZEALAND CO-OPERATEiS. WELLINGTON, February 19. The cabled announcement- regarding the “Second Polar Year” means a scientific concentration on the Arctic and Antarctic for the study of problems in terrestrial magnetism and meteorology. The first “Polar Year” was observed 100 years ago, and it is hoped to reoccupy the Arctic stations then used, and nlso a number in the Antarctic. The activities will last from August, 1932, till August, 1933,

A committee of New Zealand scientists has planned a programme for New Zealand’s participation involving the occupation of Cape Adair Antarctic station by some European expedition, the New Zealand observers to work at Macquarrie Island, thus providing a continuous line of observers from the Antarctic through the Sub-Antarctic to Christchurch and Apia. Special apparatus is being planned. The Dominion Meteoroligifit, Dr Kidson, states that it is hoped to make a concentrated study of the general circulation of the atmosphere. New Zealand has been doing a good deal of work in observation of the higher atmo-snhci-e. The Dominion committee has a waited the return of the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) and Dr Marsden, Lireetor of the Department of Scientific Research, before presenting its programme to the Government, and it hopes that, even under the present difficult conditions, the Dominion will cooperate in world-wide scientific activity of the utmost importance.