LII. 



Mr. Knibbs : Suppose Sir Ernest Shackelton should say, " I 

 am willing that Dr. Mawson should lead the expedition, but I 

 desire my name to be associated with it." Where would we be then? 



The President : Then I think we would be on the road to 

 understanding where we are. 



Mr. Knibbs : We would be in the position of not paying any 

 money ? 



The President : No. We would be in a position to com- 

 municate further with him. The question might arise as to the 

 value of the results of the expedition. Supposing he said he did 

 not intend to part with the supreme control of the results of the 

 expedition ? We want the cable worded in such a way that we 

 know he is merely a friend in London, and that he does not want to 

 interfere with the complete control by Dr. Mawson. 



Mr. Teece : I have heard nothing to convince me that Sir 

 Ernest Shackelton is a permanent tenant of the South Pole or has 

 even got an improvement lease there. The Japanese Expedition 

 is on its way. I am quite unable to understand that any man or 

 nation can claim an exclusive right to the exploration of the 

 Antarctic regions. 



The President: Not the Antarctic regions, but just that portion 

 of the Antarctic coast that the Australasian expedition is to deal 

 with. That portion has been left to Shackelton because he has 

 established his patent rights. He has handed over the dash to 

 the Pole to Scott's expedition. 



Mr. Duckworth : We have no information from the Com- 

 mittee as to how it will stand with regard to the British Government 

 and with other Governments who may be expected to contribute 

 to this fimd. In any case the results must go to England. (Voices : 

 " No." " Why ?") 



Dr. Mawson : This is to be an Australasian National Expedi- 

 tion. The President of the Royal Society and of the Geographical 

 Society whom I interviewed last year have expressed themselves in 

 complete sympathy with us, and will do what they can. They have 

 promised instruments, but are poor, because they gave every penny 

 they had to the Scott Scientific Expedition. 



Colonel Legge : I am assured by the President of the Royal 

 Geographical Society in England that there will be no interference 

 as regards the Geographical Society. 



Professor Henderson seconded the motion, which was sup- 

 ported by Mr. Hamilton and carried unanimously. 



The President : The committee suggested is a fairly large one. 

 (Read the names of the proposed Committee.) 



The suggestion is that this Committee should work by sub- 

 committees as members are so widely scattered throughout Aus- 

 tralia. In the first place the duties of the Committee \\ill consist 



