TESTS OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 7

TESTS OF ATOMIC WEAPONS

Proving Grounds In Pacific STATEMENT BY U.S. COMMISSION (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, July 23. The United States Atomic Energy Commission announced to-night that it was establishing proving grounds in the Pacific for experiments and tests of atomic weapons. The commission refused to elaborate the announcement, but observers recall that last May the Army and Navy were experimenting with radioactive clouds which could be released from aircraft to drift over a great area. The commission, in a report presented to Congress, also said that it was speculative at this stage of development to estimate how long it would be until atomic power production units feasible for large-scale commercial use would be available. The establishment of proving grounds on some remote island or islands in the vast reaches of the Pacific will assure not only secrecy but safety in the testing of weapons which would be dangerous in populated areas. It is believed that the project will be a permanent installation similar to the atomic bomb factory at Los Alamos, in New Mexico, and that the armed services will participate in tha enterprise.

REFUGEES FOR AUSTRALIA

GENEVA AGREEMENT CRITICISED PROSPECT SAID TO BE ALARMING (Rec. 7 p.m.) SYDNEY, July 24. Alarm at the prospect of 12,000 refugees “of dubious nationality and sentiments pouring into this country every year” was expressed by the State president of the Returned Servicemen’s League (Mr K. McL. Bolton), criticising the agreement signed in Geneva by the Minister of Immigration (Mr A. A. Calwell). “This is a business which should make every Australian hold his breath, not only with indignation but with fear of what Australia will eventually become,” said Mr Bolton. He asked why it was possible forthe International Refugee Organisation to obtain shipping while between 200,000 and 400,000 persons of British stock were awaiting passages to Australia. Referring to the housing shortage, he said that previous experience had shown that refugees were not overscrupulous in their methods of obtaining the finest of accommodation. Mr Bolton received support from State Labour members, who are perturbed at the possible impact of the immigration plans on the State Government’s housing programme. The Federal Acting-Minister of Immigration (Senator J. I. Armstrong), however, said that Mr Bolton was entirely out of step with his members, and that many sub-branches of the Returned Servicemen’s League had passed resolutions supporting the Government’s immigration policy. A newspaper survey of former servicemen’s organisations made to-day revealed that opinions are divided on the immigration issue.

REFRIGERATION PROBLEMS

SHIPPING LINES SET UP COMMITTEE

LABORATORY ESTABLISHED AT CAMBRIDGE (Special Correspondent H2J’A.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. To continue and extend research into the carrying of refrigerated cargo, shipping lines engaged in the Nev Zealand, Australian, South African, South American, and north Pacific trade have established a cargo research committee in London, and have set up their own laboratory at Cambridge under the direction of Dr. A. J. Smith, a world authority on refrigeration. Research was begun after the Great War by the British Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The new*laboratory has been established near the Government Low-tem-perature Research Station at Cambridge, and will work in close collaboration with it. Dr. Smith was a member of the first refrigeration investigation committee sent to Australia in 1920, and participated in research which solved the problem of brown heart in fruit transported by sea. Engineer officers from the staffs of various shipping lines will be sent to the Cambridge laboratory to work with Dr. Smith and to gain scientific knowledge of refrigeration problems which they will be able to apply in practice when they return to their ships. Training of Ships’ Officers The committee will also send technical observers on selected voyages to report upon the operation of refrigeration devices. Its main task, however, will be the improvement and standardisation of refrigeration installations and the study of storage, handling, and stowage problems connected with the transport of fruit, meat, and all types of refrigerated cargo. In this, it will work in close cooperation with departments of scientific and industrial research in New Zealand and other exporting countries, and will also collaborate with the recently formed British Shipbuilder/ Research Association, in which all the major British shipping companies are co-operating on technical shipbuilding problems. The Cargo Research Committee consists of one administrative and one technical member from each group, with Mr A. I. Anderson, of the Orient Line, as chairman. Dr. Franklin Kidd represents the British Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. The results of all research work will be pooled, and will be available to rll those interested, including the New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. BRONZE CANDELABRA IN ABBEY GIFT OF LORD LEE OF FAREHAM (Special Correapondent N.ZJA) J P “■> LONDON, July 24. It has been disclosed that the two magnificent bronze candelabra which stand near the shrine of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey were anonymously given by Lord Lee of Fareham. who died recently. Lord Lee stipulated that the gift should remain anonymous until after his death. Both candelabra were th* work of Benno Elkan, a famous German sculptor, who came to England in 1920 Each stands six feet high, and is in the shape of a tree. One candelabrum bears figures representing 32 Old Testament characters, and the other has figures of 32 characters from the New Testament