EMPIRE METEOEOLOGX

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17338, 9 December 1919, Page 11

EMPIRE METEOEOLOGX

CONFERENCE IN LONDON, VALUABLE RESULTS ACHIEVED, [FROM OTTB own CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, Oct. 10. During the week there has been held in London the first conference of represen- > tative meteorologists from the Dominions ! under the presidency of Sir Napier Shaw, director of the Meteorological Office and acting controller of meteorology of the Air Ministry. There were present representatives from all the Dominions except Newfoundland, from the Crown Colony of Cevlon, and from India and Egypt. At the opening meeting the delects* were welcomed by General Sir F. H. Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation', and Sir Napier Shaw. Colonel L. F. Blandy then read a paper on arrangements for transmission of meteorological information by wireless. He outlined a scheme covering the whole of Europe, the Mediterranean, and North Africa. In the discussion which ensued the delegates expressed their opinions as to how far the scneme could be adopted in the various Dominions. The afternoon was directed to a discussion of the trans'; mission of observations from ships at sea. The delegates then visited the radio-tele-graphic station at the Air Ministry. On Wednesday _ morning Squadron Leader A. D. Spiers, R.A.F., opened a discussion on the , aerial routes, CairoKarachi and Cairo to the Cane. The subject was discussed from a meteorological stand-point, and the delegates concerned emphasised the interest of their respective Governments, in the pro posed routes. Subsequently Sir E. Stupart (Canada) raised the question of instruments and equipment for upper air observations by means of pilot balloons. A decision was also reached on the best form of report for aviation purposes. The afternoon was devoted to the selection of stations for the general study of climatology of the globe. Later the delegates visited Kew Observatory, Richmond. Thursday was devoted to visits to the lute Balloon Testing Station, Kingston Hill and the R.A.F. Meteorological Station, Bedford. On Friday the conference discussed the Convention for International Aerial Navigation. It was difficult to enter into a detailed examination of the meteorological clauses of this convention, as these had not been seen by the Dominion meteorologists before their arrival in England. Consideration of the international codes was left for the International Meteorological - Conference which started in Paris this week. On behalf of the hydrographer of the Navy a paper on hurricanes and hurricane 'conditions was circulated. It was obvious that a considerable amount of information on this subject was already available, and it was decided that' records and the reports of all hurricanes observed in the future should be sent to the Meteorological Office, London, with a view to analysis ' and investigation. • •» On the question of further co-operation on meteorological matters of the several parts of the Empire, Mr. D. C. Bates (New Zealand) proposed : "That the Conference of representative meteorologists of the British Empire, assembled together for the first time, should agree to continue as an association for the exchange of views from time to time upon scientific matters concerning the achievements, requirements, and organisation of their services." This was carried unanimously. Sir Napier Shaw was elected first president, and members were invited to sub-. mi' rules for the guidance and acceptance of the association. The conference has been beneficial in bringing together the various meteorological organisations of the Empire, and it is confidently anticipated that as a' result complete co-operation will be maintained between Dominions, Crown colonies, and the Mother Country. It is unnecessary to point out the need for this co-operation in view of the development of the' great aerial routes of the Empire. The following were the delegates pre--1 sent : Sir Napier Shaw, Great Britain (chairman), Captain A. J. Bamford (Ceylon), Mr. D. C. Bates (New Zealand), Mr. H. D. Grant (Admiralty), Mr. H. A. Hunt (Australia), Mr. H. Knox-Shaw (Egypt), Mr. C. Stewart (South Africa), Sir F. Stupart (Canada), Dr, G. T. Walker (India). Captain D. Brunt, of the Meteorological Office, and Captain -R. M. B. Mackenzie, R.A.F., of the Air Minis? : try, acted as secretaries to the conference.