Minutes CANBERRA, 5 May 1947, 11.45 a.m.
AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC TERRITORY
[matter omitted]
2. PROCEEDINGS [1]
(a) Appointment of Leader
Dr. Burton reported that Cabinet had directed that the question of
the appointment of a Leader for the forthcoming Expedition to the
Antarctic be brought back to Cabinet when a suitable person had
been selected by the Committee. He said that he had discussed with
Air Marshal Williams the possibility of the latter's releasing
Group-Captain Campbell [2] from the Department of Civil Aviation
for service as Leader of the Expedition and that, while Air
Marshal Williams was anxious to retain his services for an
important position in his Department, it had been agreed to leave
the choice to Group-Captain Campbell himself. It was agreed by the
Meeting that Group-Captain Campbell was clearly the most suitable
man for the position and that every effort should be made to
secure his services. Even it if was not found possible to have him
released from the Department of Civil Aviation, it was considered
desirable to enlist his co-operation and advice on preliminary
planning at once.
(b) Practicability of Expedition
The Navy Department's representatives raised the question of the
practicability of organising and mounting an Expedition on the
scale which the proposals before the Committee appeared to
contemplate. It was suggested that if the Expedition set out for
the Antarctic as proposed, it might well run into unforeseen
difficulties of landing and lighterage, such as would cause delays
sufficient to deprive it of effectiveness. Commander Oom [3] urged
that advice be obtained at once as to whether the present plans
were practicable. The Committee therefore decided to co-opt
Captain J.K. Davis, Director of Navigation [4], as a member to
take part in its future meetings, and that he, together with
Commanders Wright and Oom and the Leader, should go into this
question. Their report was asked for in time to be presented to
the Committee's next meeting.
(c) Auxiliary Vessel
Commander Wright reported that progress was being made with the
refitting of the Wyatt Earp. He referred to the question of an
auxiliary vessel and stated that neither of the vessels which the
United Kingdom Government was in a position to make available for
use by Australia would be suitable. He said that an LST [5] could
be placed in service if required and would be preferable to any
other available craft. For an Expedition of any size an auxiliary
vessel would be essential in view of the very small size of the
Wyatt Earp.
(d) Detailed Planning
The Meeting agreed that a technical Committee should be
constituted to prepare a report on detailed planning for the
Expedition, to deal with such matters as person[ne]l supplies,
stores and technical equipment. This Committee is to consist of
Sir Douglas Mawson, Dr White [6] and the Leader and may consult
Mr. John Rymill [7] if desired. Dr. Burton asked that this
Committee's report as to what was required and what was available
should be presented in the shortest possible time, preferably by
the end of the current week. It was also agreed that the
procurement of these supplies should be undertaken by this
Committee at once. Commander Oom asked that all supplies be ready
by the end of October with a view to ensure that the Expedition be
ready to sail at the end of November.
(e) Personnel
The Meeting agreed that another Committee should be set up at once
to determine on what personnel would be required for the
Expedition and then to proceed with the selection of individuals
for their respective duties. This Committee is to consist of Dr.
White, Commander Oom, the Executive Officer and another
representative of the Navy. This Committee is to consider whether
scientific workers from New Zealand and South Africa might be
included in the expedition.
(f) The Meeting agreed on the appointment of Mr. A. Cunningham
Tweedie as Secretary of the Executive Planning Committee. [8]
(g) Next Meeting
At the end of the morning session, it was agreed that the next
meeting of the
Committee should be at 2.30 p.m. on Monday 12th May.
When the meeting resumed after luncheon, Sir Douglas Mawson was
able to give the Committee his views on the practicability of
plans for the Expedition and firsthand information on conditions
at sites likely to be used for its headquarters. While he had
himself seen Cape Freshfield, he could not definitely state that
the rock on which the covering ice was based was above sea-level
or sufficient to provide foundations for huts. He said it was
essential that any scientific station should be on hard rock in
view of the movement of surface ice.
On the question of landing strips for aircraft, Sir Douglas and
Air Commodore Scherger agreed that on Macquarie Island there was
little possibility of the construction of such a strip in view of
the great expense involved and the difficulty of landing equipment
necessary for the work.
Sir Douglas said that Cape Denison would not be suitable as a base
because of prevailing high winds, but that there were better
places about fifty miles on either side of it. One is in French
territory and the other is to the East, at Cape Pigeon Rocks. Sir
Douglas said that this is the most suitable area for the
establishment of a permanent base as it is very close to the
present position of the South Magnetic Pole and a great deal of
valuable scientific work can be done with this as a basis. Cape
Bage, Penguin Point, or a place known as The Bluff in this
neighbourhood, might also be suitable sites for bases.
4. REVISION OF PROPOSALS
After some discussion it was agreed by the Meeting that, in view
of the lack of complete information as to conditions, it would be
desirable to decide on an Expedition with limited objectives for
the coming summer. In accordance with this revised plan, the Wyatt
Earp alone should sail carrying only strictly essential scientific
personnel. The purpose of the voyage should be to reconnoitre the
area in which the establishment of a permanent base is
contemplated and to obtain the fullest information about potential
sites, so that the Expedition sent in the following year might be
able to establish itself with the minimum delay and effort. In
addition, the forthcoming Expedition should carry out scientific,
particularly meteorological work, at Macquarie Island and at a
point to be selected in the Cape Freshfield - Cape Bage Cape
Denison region. It was felt also that consideration might be given
to the possibility of carrying on meteorological research in the
Balleny Islands, which are in the Ross Sea Dependency, if the New
Zealand Government concurred. Six men should be left at the base
station to continue observations through the winter.
Dr. Evatt was present during this discussion and expressed his
concurrence in the revised programme. He indicated his keen
interest in the success of the undertaking and urged that
everything possible be done to this end.
5. WHALING VESSELS
Sir Douglas Mawson said that his original suggestions for the
scope of the
Expedition had been based on the assumption that an Australian
Whaling Expedition would also be going to Antarctic waters this
year. Whaling vessels could then have been used for the transport
of quantities of stores and equipment. This might in any event be
borne in mind in the future. Dr. Evatt expressed agreement and
said he would try to obtain a whaling factory ship from General
Macarthur.
6. NEW VESSEL
Commander Oom said he was in favour of the construction of a new
wooden vessel in Australia for use in subsequent Expeditions, as
part of the long-range plan.
7. The meeting then adjourned.
Annex
TOP SECRET
ANTARCTIC
HEARD ISLAND
Dr. Evatt asked members of the Committee for their views on the
question referred to the Defence Committee as to whether Australia
might annex Heard Island. It was agreed that it was desirable to
establish a post of some kind on the island and show the flag in
token of annexation.
[AA : A1068, A47/26/1]
1 The meeting was chaired by Burton. The Departments of Navy, Air
and Treasury were represented, with McMillan from External
Affairs. The Director of Fisheries (Department of Commerce and
Agriculture) was present as an observer. Evatt and Sir Douglas
Mawson attended the afternoon session.
2 Group Captain S.A.C. Campbell, Director of Air Navigation and
Safety, Department of Civil Aviation; Officer-in-Charge of Flying
Operations in the British, Australian and New Zealand Antarctic
Expedition, 1929-31, (BANZARE) under Mawson. On 13 May Cabinet
approved his appointment as Executive Officer and leader of the
expedition.
3 Commander K.E. Oom, a former hydrographer to the RAN; surveyor
in the BANZARE expedition.
4 Department of Supply and Shipping.
5 Landing Ship Tank.
6 F.W.G. White, Executive Officer, CSIR.
7 J.R. Rymill, South Australian grazier; member of several Arctic
and Antarctic expeditions in the 1930s.
8 In all later minutes T.G. Heath is listed as secretary.
