STUDENTS’ SURVEY ON H-BOMB AND WEATHER

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28343, 31 July 1957, Page 10

STUDENTS’ SURVEY ON H-BOMB AND WEATHER

Do H-bombs affect the' weather? This was the question 44? persons in Christchurch were asked by members of the Stage II psychology class at Canterbury University College, in the course of a survey the class carried out as part of their practical work. Of the total, 149 considered Hbombs do affect the weather, 198 considered they do not. 75 said they did not know, and 20 gave replies Which could not be classified as either affirmative or negative. This could not be taken as a representative sample of public opinion, a .member, of the Psychology department staff said yesterday, as no check had been made to ensure that persons from all sections of the community had been asked, but many different classes of persons among the students* friends and acquaintances had been included in the survey. As interesting as the totals from the Survey were some of the individual replies the students re-, ceived. Some were inclined to think there were H-bombs and H-bombsA “Some of the tests might affect' the weather, but not the British ones,” one man said. Another expressed jukt the opposite view: “Only the British bombs affect the weather,” he said, and added a pseudo-scientific “proof” to support his theory. Some offered alternative explanations for the recent spell of bad weather. “It’s these Americans who were down at the South Pole stirring up all the snow and bringing back snow and ice on the wings of their planes,” said' one, “That’s what causes the bad weather.” Another said: “All this weather has been altered by radio,” and another: “We’ve had bad weather ever since they, took the trams away—there’s not enough electricity in the air.” “Motor-cars and things, pouring fumes out into the air,” was the cause according to another man.

Some thought the effect of Hbombs included bad weather, but was wider still. “And what about these sun spots they were talking

about In the paper,” one suggested.; “They’re probably caused by H-bombs too, and I wouldn’t be surprised it this Asian ’flu was caused by the explosions as well.” Few were unwilling to talk on the subject (“I refused to have my name used for hysterical propaganda”), and many broadened the topic to include their opinions on H-bombs in general. “The reason is that people feel secretly guilty, and regard the adverse effect in .the weather as just punishment from heaven for playing around with things they shouldn’t,” one of those questioned elaborated. “It won’t be long before we have to take an umbrella everywhere with us to keep off this fall-out,” said another. Some were more concerned with other possible effects of the explosions. “They don’t have any effect on the weather, |>ut I think it affects people’s love life. You may laugh, hut there is more in that than meets the eye.” Another man was more forthright: “I don’t know about that, hut }f they make me stei-ile. Til write a very rude letter to Mr Eisenhower.” he said.

Many of those whose replies were negative, had a touching faith in scientists. “Scientists say they’re safe, so they miist be safe; they know more than we do,” said one. “I only know what I read in the papers,” said a second.

Few of the 75 who admitted they did not know the answer to the question were as sophisticated as one young woman: “I make it a matter of principle never to speak without knowledge,” .she said.