MAWSON FOR THE SOUTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 595, 22 February 1929, Page 9

MAWSON FOR THE SOUTH

NEW ZEALAND GIVES £2,500 CANBERRA, Friday. The Commonwealth Government has decided to organise and equip an expedition to the Antarctic to be led by Sir Douglas Mawson at the end of this year. The Prime Minister, Mr. Bruce, says the New Zealand Government has been invited to co-operate in the expedition, and he earnestly hoped it would do so, by providing representatives in the scientific personnel. The expedition would cost £16,000, toward which the New Zealand Government had offered to contribute £2,500.

The famous ship Discovery has been placed at the disposal of Sir Douglas Mawson by the British Government for the Antarctic expedition which he is to lead (says a British Official Wireless message). This three-master auxiliary barque was used by Captain Scott for his first Antarctic expedition.

Sir Douglas Mawson’s expedition, which the Commonwealth Government is equipping, and which a- number of British scientists have been invited to join, will leave Hobart, Tasmania, at the beginning of the next Australian summer.-

Sir Douglas arrived in London from Australia 10 days ago in the hope of acquiring the Discovery. Sir Douglas, interviewed, said that although Britain had offered the Discovery, he had a list of ships which might be more suitable, and would not be in a position to decide for another two days. “I have not chosen the crew,” he said, “but there will probably be a majority of Australians, although it is likely there will be some Englishmen.”