TO THE POLE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 163, 19 October 1910, Page 5

TO THE POLE

CAPTAIN SCOTT INTERVIEWED. THE EXPLORER ENTERTAINED. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Received IS, D.o p.m. Sydney, October 18. Captain Scott, interviewed, said his expedition had easily enough food for three years. The main portion would be pemmican and specially-made biscuits with a large amount of proteid in them. The ship was taking a little alcohol in ease of sickness. The ship's company were not rabid teetotallers, but they would not take any alcoholic liquor on the "dash" for the Pole. The main object was to reach the Pole, but no opportunity for doing good scientific work would be neglected. Captain Scott said he had got together a staff of scientists of great experience and they were more numerous than those of any previous expedition. The motor sledges the Terra Nova was taking were the result of years of Captain Scott's experiments and had been brought as near to perfection as possible. The stores include 1 800 gallons of petrol. Mr. Marconi had offered to put in a wireless plant for the Terra Nova, and with its aid, "with everybody's shoulders to the wheel," he hoped to cover the last 111- miles which Sir Ernest Shackleton had unfortunately failed to traverse. Describing the polar party, he hoped that after laying down the depots to make a start in October of next year. The party would consist of sixteen men, who have been specially chosen. The hardiest men have to travel at given intervals. Four go back on each occasion and the fittest are picked to go on until only four remain, who will make the final dash. This process of elimination, it is hoped, will accomplish the object. There is, said Captain Scott, no such thing in polar work as certainty, but he was sure that everyone of the Terra Nova party was going to work in the right spirit with a firm idea of getting to the Pole.

Regarding finance, Captain Scott thought the Government would double its subscription. The Lord Mayor, at a representative gathering, welcomed Captain Scott in the Town Hall. Professor David declared he was fully confident that Captain Scott would fulfil his mission. Captain Scott, in replying, said: "Why not keep the whole of the land lying idle in South Australia for the British race and say we do not want other nationalities to write their names on the lands in the south of this country?" The meeting decided to approach Mr. Hugties with a view to getting the Federal Government to double its grant for the expedition.