LI. 



The suggestion of Mr. Hamilton that the word " paid " be 

 inserted in the report in lieu of the word " voted " was agreed to 

 on the voices. 



Mr. Knibbs : I think it should be made clear that we do not 

 require Sir Ernest Shackelton's leave to do anything in connection 

 with the Antarctic. (Hear, hear.) It implies that Sir Ernest 

 Shackelton has some proprietary right in the matter, which we are 

 not prepared to admit. 



The President : My impression is, and the impression of the 

 committee was, that Sir Ernest Shackelton has a proprietary right 

 just in the same way that Mr. Knibbs would have, in connection 

 with the investigation of some phenomena, in a paper in which 

 he announces his intention to issue a second one. No one could 

 prevent Professor Pollock or anybody else from jumping his claim, 

 but he would not like to do it. I take it that that is Sir Ernest 

 Shackelton's position. He has a patent right to the investigation 

 of that part of the Antarctic coast, and until he hands over his 

 claim to anybody else he has a prior right. Other nations are 

 respecting his claim. 



Mr. Knibbs : I do not think they are. 



Dr. Mawson : In the first instance the plan was put forward 

 by Sir Ernest Shackelton in the London press in March last. He 

 asked could he go as leader and said he had £70,000 promised. I 

 said I would consider it, and said I would go as scientific leader. 

 He gave me the names of those gentlemen who had promised to 

 support the expedition. One had promised £20,000. The expedi- 

 tion has been enlarged upon in the English press as " Shackelton's 

 Expedition." But I know he is not going from letters and cables 

 which I have received from him. In reply to one of my letters he. 

 said : " I could not possibly go to the Antarctic, and I am furthering 

 the project for you as much as possible." He still keeps his name 

 attached to it. I think now it can be withdrawn, as this scientific 

 association states that it is taking it up, without fear of other 

 nations stepping in, because it is on the basis of scientific etiquette. 

 Lieut. Filchner, the German explorer, is raising £70,000 to go to a 

 portion of the Antarctic which offers only an ice barrier. If that 

 expedition goes he will be disappointed, and there will be no 

 economic results. That expedition is on the way there now, but 

 their equipment indicates not a polar but a sealing expedition, so 

 it is not serious. Sir Ernest Shackelton has some rights, that is 

 to say his name has been associated with it, and he has read a paper 

 before the Society in London, but none of this money will be put 

 to any use at all if he is associated with the expedition. I am 

 assured by a private cable, and I would like the Society to be further 

 assured, that Sir Ernest Shackelton will be a great help to this 

 expedition in London. In fact, he has offered that I can have the 

 " Nimrod " for the interest on its cost. (Hear, hear.) 



