THE YALE TELESCOPE

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 16, 19 July 1923, Page 7

THE YALE TELESCOPE

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY ASKED

PRIME MINISTER SYMPATHETIC.

A deputation from the Astronomical Society of New Zealand, accompanied by Professor H. B. Kirk, president of the New Zealand Institute, made a request to the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) this morning for financial assistance to enable an observatory to be erected in a locality to be determined upon for the purpose of housing a valuable telescope offered by Yale University.

The Hon. 6. M. Thomson, who introduced the deputation said that Yale University intended to'establish a very valuable telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, as far South as possible, and had made first offer to New Zealand. The telescope' was now being made in Chicago, and would be worth something like £9000. The American authorities considered that New Zealand offered tile best site, and they proposed to send two qualified astronomers with it. whose salaries they would pay for ten years.

Mr. Massey: "That is pretty good. It seems to be the best recommendation. "

New Zealand had been asked to erect the necessary buildings, including an observatory with walls about 30 feet high and a dome about 45 feet in diameter. The society thought the whole cost could' be met if a £1 for £1 subsidy were obtained on the value of the Yale instrument. Various centres in the Dominion were already moving in the direction of 'trying to secure the telescope, offers having been received by the society of £30CO and £5000-from-Auckland and Duuedin respectively upon condition that the instrument was installed in those districts. The speaker-stated that no money would be required this year, and perhaps not- next year. If the telescope was not accepted by New Zealand it would be installed in' South Africa. It would be a thousand pities if the Dominion lost such an opportunity. It had been stated that the second man at the observatory would probably be a New Zealander.

Sir Robert Stout said he did not think the question of rivalry of districts would affect the matter, as the site would be selected by the experts themselves. Mr. Massey : "Would Central Otago be sufficiently far south?"—"Oh, yes." Sir Eobert Stout said that tlie Americans had chosen that locality as preferable. He had no doubt considerable funds could be collected locally, and tho cost to the Government would be about £10,000. The surveys might involve some further expenditure.

Sir Frederick Chapman stressed the enormous importance of the observations ■being made by the Americans throughout the world, and spoke of the value of the results. The American recognition of New Zealand as the most suitable locality for the purposes of observation should be sufficient to. induce them to take the matter very seriously. The society had not selected a definite site, but the central portions of the country were favoured, because of the clearer atmosphere.

Mr. Massey stated, in reply, that the proposal appealed strongly to him, but he did. not want to commit the Government to any more expenditure than he could help, as it would be necessary to keep it in check for some time. He thought the Yale, offer was one whioh should not be lost, and he promised to make a favourable recommendation to Cabinet.