NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20990, 29 September 1931, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

CIRCULATION OF THE AIR. " Meteorologists have not vet succeeded in giving a deal 4 account of tho general circulation of tho earth's atmosphere, that is to say, of tho distribution of the prevailing winds at various seasons," says a writer in Nature. The main features of tho surfaco circulation aro known. On land, the gaps in our knowledge are gradually being filled by organised exploration with the aid of pilot balloons. Our very scanty knowledge of upper winds over tho oceans is being rapidly increased by systematic observations undertaken on a number of His Majesty's ships, according to a scheme initiated in 1925. During 1931 no fewer than 1500 observations are to bo made in various parts of tho world, and this year's programme is to be repeated during forthcoming years. The soundings frequently extend up to a height of 20,000 ft. when clouds do uot interfere, and one made in Australian waters reached 49.000 ft., that is to say, nearly tho same level as that to which Professor Piccard ascended recently. In some instances, measurements of temperature are made. The accumulated material will be available at the Air Ministry for consultation by aviators and for meteorological research.

THE UNIVERSITY'S TASK. " The educational value of a university justly regarded will depend, not on its popularity, or wealth, or even on the world-extended fame of its professors or the multitude of its students, but on the traditions of life and work which inform, direct and inspire its normal habit," said Dr. Henson, Bishop of Durham, on the occasion of the installation of Lord Londonderry as Chancellor of Durham University. " llow far will a young man's training here in Durham liberate him from tho reigning tyrannies of the world in which ho must presently play his part—a world, hidebound by prejudice, envenomed by class hatred, almost submerged by materialism, distracted, faithless and debased, and yet. filled full with the opportunities of service, and pathetically eager to learn and believe the truth ? It is a very real and a very pressing problem, not easily solved. His conditions under which a modern university must fulfil its function in a modern democracy aro certainly very difficult. There will be need of unflagging vigilance on tlie part of those who govern and teach, if they are to preserve their indispensable independence, and resist successfully the lowering influences, intellectual and moral, which bear on them with ever waxing vigour from without. There will bo need of much self-discipline, much selfsacrifice, if they are to overcome those treasons to truth and discipline which are ever rising from within." RAILWAYS AND THEIR RIVALS. The vast scheme of electrification of British railways proposed by the Weir Committee was discussed by Mr. Herbert Morrison, Minister of Transport in tho Labour Government, in a speech shortly before the coalition was formed. "You cannot get it dono unless you are sure of one or two things—that the electrification will bring adequate traffic to tho railways, which is speculative, or that you will have such legislation as will protect tho railways against undue and improper road competition, and the British public have to make up their minds as to whether there is a future for railways or not," he said. " I have never met anybody who seriously takes tho view that there is coming a time when the railways will become unnecessary and can safely bo scrapped. We have to see to it, however, that the railway does its job where it can best do it, always assuming that it will he efficient and progressive and up-to-date. Tf tho railways will not do these things tlicy cannot expect protection, because only the efficient have a right to be protected. But, assuming that they have that right, you have to see to it that the railways can fully function. I do not believe you can get proper co-ordination unless some authority is in a position to decide how each element of transport shall function and the extent to which it shall function."

FRANCO-BRITISH TRA DE. The fiill in tlio exchange value of the pound stealing has apparently created consternation in France, for it has given an entirely new turn to a situation which has been regarded in Britain as highly unsatisfactory. Last December, Mr. C. .). Henderson, president of tlio British Chamber of Commerce in Paris, pointed out that, it was not an economic proposition to have a one-way trade traffic with its consequent gold drain. He urged that. " Franco should take from Great Britain goods of an equivalent value to tbos.c Great Britain took from her." In that, case France would have to take 1,000,000,000 francs (about £8,000,000 at par of exchange) worth of products more than she did to-day, and not unnaturally Mr. Henderson expressed tlio hope that French tariff obstacles would be made lighter. Subsequently, M. Rollin, Minister of Commerce and Industry, pointed out that though French tariffs affected b4 per cent, of British products and the British customs applied to only 24 per cent, of French products, the British Treasury last year benefited to the extent of £5,876,000, while the French Treasury received only £2,174,000. Discussing the position last month, the Times Trade Supplement remarked that it scorned optimistic to anticipate that foreign Governments would make concessions so long as Britain kept the door open and they could confidently rely on continuing to enjoy their present advantages without making any return. If the British Government were aimed with authority to impose a tariff on foreign imports, the position would bo entirely changed. Ministers would then have a counter with which to bargain, whether they ultimately decided to impose duties or now