PACIFIC WEATHER SERVICE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 60, 4 December 1937, Page 10

PACIFIC WEATHER SERVICE

Conference Concludes

BENEFIT TO TRANS-OCEAN AVIATION

The meteorological conference which has been sitting in Wellington this week and which ha's been attended by delegates from Britain, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, concluded yesterday. After the formal business, speakers expressed their appreciation of the Government’s action in making the conference possible, and agreed that much of value had beeu accomplished. The deliberations of the conference were mainly on technical matters, and the conclusions of delegates are embodied in some forty resolutions and recommendations which will be submitted to the Governments interested. If given effect to, the proposals will make possible comprehensive reporting of weather in the Pacific and enable a start to be made in the study of the relationship of storm movements above and below the equator. At the conclusion of the conference, Mr. F. Entwistle, head of the overseas division of the Meteorological Office, London, expressed the thanks of visiting delegates to the Prime Minister and tlie Government for the courtesy and hospitality shown them during their stay. They were also indebted to the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, Minister in Charge of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and Dr. E. Marsden, secretary of the department, for having facilitated the work of the conference, said Mr. Entwistle. Under the guidance of Dr. E. Kidson, the conference had been able to arrive at conclusions which, if carried out, would revolutionise meteorology iu the South-west Pacific, and establish a weather service the equal of any in the world. He was sure tlie resolutions, when put into effect, would be of the greatest assistance to the air-lines which they hoped to see established in the Pacific.

Replying, Dr. Kidson said he would be very glad to convey tlie thanks of delegates to the Prime Minister. The conference, he thought, had beeu a successful one, and he was particularly grateful to overseas delegates for their assistance.

"To an outsider,” said Dr. Kidson, “some of the resolutions might appear to make considerable demands on the resources of the countries concerned, but. they have all been carefully considered and are fully justified.” He thanked Dr. M. A. F. Barnett for his work as secretary to the conference. "As the representative of PauAmerican Airways, which is endeavouring to establish a Pacific service, I can say that the company is fully aware of the importance of Hie meteorological problem,” said Mr. Harold Gatty. "We expected to encounter difficulties in the South Pacific, and our meteorologists were very surprised to find such a very line weather service iu New Zealand as has been built up by Dr. Kidson. The work of the conference will add to the safety and efficiency of the air service we hope to establish. If these resolutions arc carried out most of our worries will be over.”