Report of Society's Representative on Ross Dependency Research Committee

This Committee (RDRC) was appointed in terms of a Cabinet Minute of March 25, 1958.

The Minister in Charge of Scientific and Industrial Research was given the responsibility for co-ordinating all New Zealand activity in the Ross Dependency, with the understanding that the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research would co-ordinate executive action and perform any necessary executive acts not clearly the responsibility of any other Government Department or authority and the committee was appointed to advise and assist the Minister. The Committee consists of representatives of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the Meteorological Service, the Departments of External Affairs and of Lands and Survey, the Chiefs of Staff Committee the Dominion Museum, the Royal Society of New Zealand, and New Zealand Universities. The functions of the Committee are to advise the Minister on organisation and administration of New Zealand activity in the Ross Dependency, to present an Annual Report, to co-ordinate all New Zealand activity in the Dependency with special reference to scientific programme, to co-ordinate this activity with that of other countries operating in Antarctica, and to co-ordinate publication and dissemination of results and custody of records.

Owing to the need for a representative to attend the initial meeting of April 16, the undersigned was appointed in early April. The initial meeting discussed the Committee's terms of reference, proposals for New Zealand activities in Antarctica in 1959–60, and factors affecting the proposed programme, and set up a sub-committee to report on publication, dissemination and custody of records and information.

The Committee's activities give promise of continued New Zealand scientific investigations in the Ross Dependency as a fitting sequel to the successful scientific programmes of the Transantarctic Expedition, the I.G.Y. Expedition, and the New Zealand Geological Survey during the past year.

C.A. Fleming, Representative of Royal Society of New Zealand.