^ ANTARCTIC COMMITTEE — BEPORT. 



Batchelor, who, with the Prime Minister (Hon. A. Fisher) was then on 

 liis way to England, and a meeting in London was thus arranged 

 between these Ministers and Dr. Mawson. Though the Committee 

 failed to obtain the immediate monetary assistance, which would have 

 been invaluable, it thus secured the support of the Government, and 

 paved the way for the later action of the Federal Parliament, which 

 in September voted a contribution of £5,000. 



2. Appeals to State Governments. 

 After his return to Australia, Dr. Mawson devoted much time and 

 energy to a successful endeavour to obtain financial assistance from 

 the States, and in this he was greatly helped by the State sub-committees. 

 The result was the payment of tlie following subsidies : — 



South Australia, £5,000 ; 



New South Wales, £7,000 ; 



Victoria, £6,000; 

 making, with the Commonwealth grant of £5,000, a total of £23,000 

 from Australian Governments. 



3. Appeals to the Public . 



On 22nd April, 1911, the newspapers of Melbourne, Sydney, and 

 Adelaide published simultaneously a letter signed, on behalf of the 

 Cominittee, by Professors Orme Masson, T. W. Edgeworth David, and 

 Geo. C. Henderson, explaining the objects of the Expedition and appeal- 

 ing to the public for support, This'letter was reprinted for circulation, 

 and several hundred copies were posted to possible subscribers through- 

 out Australia. The direct response in the way of individual sub- 

 scriptions was disappointingly small, but the letter served the purpose 

 of bringing the scheme before the public, and awakening widespread 

 interest in it, thus contributing to the later action of the Governments. 



With the same objects and similar results, various public meetings 

 Avere organized in different parts of Australia. The largest of these 

 was held in the Melbourne Town Hall on the 13th September, 1911. 

 under the presidency of His Excellency the Governor- General (Lord 

 Denman), when Dr. Mawson gave a lecture illustrated by the lantern, 

 and the following resolution was carried on the motion of the Prime 

 Minister (Mr. Fisher), seconded by the Hon. Alfred Deakin, and supported 

 by Senator J. T. Walker and Professors Masson and Henderson :—" That 

 this meeting hails with satisfaction the prospect of an Australasian 

 Expedition under the leadership of Dr. Douglas Mawson for the 

 Exploration of the Australasian Quadrant of the Antarctic Continent ; 

 and, recognising the importance of the undertaking on scientific and 

 national grounds, cordially commends it to the sympathetic considera- 

 tion and practical support of the people of Australia." The press 

 throughout Australia and Tasmania rendered invaluable service by 

 warmly supporting the objects of the Expedition. 



