THE WEATHER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 7 August 1926, Page 10

THE WEATHER

METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE US IT PROPERLY EQUIPPED? DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE (By Telegraph.—Special to The Mail.) WELLINGTON. Aug. 6. Allegations that the Meteorological Office is insufficiently equipped with up-to-date instruments were made ill the House last evening, and reference was made to the quality of the weather reports issued from the Office. Replying to the debate,' the Minister of Marine (Mr Anderson) denied that the. Office was ill-equipped, but, said it was to be reorganised. The Lender of the Opposition (Mr Holland) thought the expenditure of £SOOO a year on the Meteorological Office was * very small, considering the value of the work done. It was il-

logical to expect the Meteorological Office to be revenue-producing. Member: (Hear, hear). The reports, he said, should he broadcast. Continuing, Mr Holland quoted figures to show that the Meteorological Office was starved. He believed the present f Director was a very capable officer, but j no matter how capable that officer might be, how could lie do proper work without the provision of efficient equipment. The weather reports are more often wrong than right, declared Mr Lysnar, amidst laughter,., in protesting that the Office was not giving* sufficient' service. “Who can foretell the weather?” asked a Reform member. “This Department cannot do so,” re- j plied Mr Lysnar. “When Mr Clement Wragge was in existence, he could fore-1 tell it. If he could do so, then why cannot the Government find a man who could do so?” It would be in the interests of the Dominion if the present reports were not/issued at all. Sir Joseph Wrtrd wanted to know how Mr Lysnar could expect the Department to give good reports with inefficient instruments. “What is the good of telegraphing that it is blowing a fresh breeze at Gis-,' borne?” asked Sir Joseph, amid laugh- j ter. '“I should expect that wherever 1 lie (Mr Lvsnar) goes, the sun -shines, j and that the lion, member, like myself, irradiates the condition of things which I makes for peace, pleasantness and happiness. (Laughter). Every instrument at the Office that is out of date should

be scrapped or sent, to the Gisborne museum, or if the lion, gentleman is liaiil pressed, to the Invercargill museum.” (Laughter). Sir Joseph spoke of the need for frequent and reliable reports to be sent out, but said that if that was to be 1 done, the proper iijsCruments must be supplied. 1 The .Minister of Marine (Mr Amler- 1 son) said that whatever unreliability there was on account of weather reports was not- due to lack of machinery. A scientific committee had reported tlie meteorological instruments were quite up to date. In the opinion of the committee, the instruments were not distributed as they should be, but that was a matter for the Director of Meteorology. As far as the speaker knew the Director had not been refused any instruments that he required to any extent, not since the speaker had been in charge of the Department at any rate. I am not saying what is going to happen, but this is a highly B<vi.entifie department/ and lit will be placed under the Scientific Department that is being established. I am quite satisfied that it will he thoroughly ro--1 organised. You want a man at it who I lias had thorough training in the whole j science surrounding it. I Mr Holland asked what committee { had reported on the Office. I The Minister: The hon. gentleman re- ' ferred to it. He read it out and I want jto compliment him on getting his information. I think I could lead him without any difficulty to the gentleman who gave him that information, and the gentleman who gave him that informa- ; tion had been prompting members of ! this House for several years. If the I hon. member wants any information to ; take back to that gentleman, lie can say that if the present Minister of Marine ' had not had a very big heart and had I not allowed his heart to run away with j his organising ability, that gentleman would probably not have been in the I position to-day to give the hon. gentlej man the information he did.” 1 ' ‘