Report of Society's Representative on Transantarctic Expedition (N. Z.) Inc.

In the past twelve months there has been rapid progress in the organisation of the Expedition. Her Majesty the Queen has graciously extended her patronage to the Expedition. The preliminary organisation, The Ross Sea Committee, was incorporated as the Transantarctic Expedition (N.Z.) under the Chairmanship of the Hon. C. M. Bowden Personnel, Transport and Equipment, Radio-communication, Scientific, Finance and Appeal Sub-committees have been formed. Sir Miles Clifford, of the Transantarctic Expedition, conferred with the Ross Sea Committee in June. Sir Edmund Hillary was appointed leader of the New Zealand Expedition, and conferred in England with Dr. V. E. Fuchs, overall leader, and the Management Committee. On his return, the selection of personnel was commenced, resulting, initially, in the selection of Mr. J. H. Miller and Squadron-Leader J. R. Claydon who, with Sir Edmund Hillary, joined Dr. Fuchs and party in the Theron for the establishment of the Shackleton Base in the Weddell Sea; Dr. T. Hatherton, of the I.G.Y, Lieut-Commander W. J. L. Smith and Mr. B. M. Gunn, who were attached as observers accompanying the United States Task Force 43 to the Ross Sea area, where they journeyed and surveyed possible sites for the Scott Base; and Mr. H. Ayres, who joined the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition to Mawson and returned with dogs for the New Zealand Expedition. Thus by the end of the period, members of the New Zealand Expedition have gained valuable personal experience of antarctic conditions, of the problems in establishing a base, of equipment requirements, of workers and travel conditions, of the ice and terrain in the area of the Expedition, and of possible base-sites.

Mr. J. H. Miller has subsequently been chosen second in command to Sir Edmund Hillary Dr. George Marsh, Mr. R. A. Carlyon, Dr. R. W. Balham, C.P. O. P. D. Mulgrew, Mr. M. Ellis, Lieut. R. Brook, Mr. J. E. Gawn are now included in the party Further personnel are under consideration.

Plans for building at the base have been approved. The Royal New Zealand Navy has assumed the task of transporting the Expedition and the I. G.Y party to the base and their.