OCEANOGRAPHY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 257, 29 September 1932, Page 7

OCEANOGRAPHY.

NEED FOR RESEARCH SHIP. A recommendation that the Commonwealth Government should provide a research ship in order that scientific investigation might be carried, out in Australian waters for the purpose of adding to knowledge o,f oceanography was made by the geographical and oceanography section of the Science Congress m Sydney. It was pointed out that it was nesessary to acquire knowledge of the current systems, which affected the deadreckoning of ships, of salinity and temperature, and of the movements of floating fish eggs. It was also necessary to obtain information for the improvement and further development of the fishing industry, and for a greater accuracy in weather forecasting. Sir Douglas Mawson, leader of the two British, Australian, and New Zealand Antarctic Expeditions, In-structor-Commander M. H. Moyes, of H.M.A.S. Australia, who accompanied Sir Douglas on his first expedition, and other prominent scientists spoke. Commander Moyes, who opened the discussion with a paper on the economic value of oceanography, said that any work done in the Australian section had been due to the efforts of a few, who were carrying out research under difficulties and with restricted opportunities. {Sir Douglas Mawson said that Australia was doing less than any other large country in the world in the matter of oceanographical research, they had a great sea surrounding them, and a great area of southern seas to look after. The nature of the land areas of the world had been pretty well cleared up, but they had still before them the ocean, ot which they had as yet only a smattering of knowledge. It presented a wonderful region for expiorRrofessor W. J. Dakin, of Sydney University, said that the Norwegians were now able not only to forecast their cod harvests, but also their land harvests, as a result of the intensive study of oceanography. Outlining his experiments ot the coast near Sydney, Professor Dakin said that where they thought in single pounds, other countries thought in thousands of pounds. Something would have to be done for Australian fisheries. ■ Mr D. G. Stead said that with every indication of sectional and general fisheries of value unexcelled in the world Australia had been content to leave her citizens to muddle along as best they might towards a solution of the problem lacing them. Following a discussion on mapping, the section resolved to ask the general committee of the Congress to make provision for the production of an atlas of Australian maps, and so stabilise Australian geographic knowledge, and that the New South Wales and Commonwealth Governments be asked to expedite the production of large scale topo-graphic sheet maps, in view of their great need for the solving ot legal, administrative and political problems.