SCIENCE CONGRESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23259, 31 January 1939, Page 12

SCIENCE CONGRESS

PROBLEMS OF WEATHEK A FORECAST THAT FAILED PROCEEDINGS ENLIVENED NEW ZEALANDER'S IMPRESSIONS [BT TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] IXVERCARGILL. Monday Scientific discussions are not always the dry-as-dust affairs that the layman supposes. Although many weighty problems were discussed by the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science at the biannual congress held recently in Canberra, an attempt to give 'an explanation or an excuse for the abnormal weather experienced recently in Australia and New Zealand enlivened the proceedings, "A paper by Mr. Inigo Jones, termed by one member of the congress as 'the Clement Wragge of Queensland,' provided the most controversy," said Dr. C. M. Focken, lecturer in physics at Otngo University, who returned by the Maunganui. "Other scientists were somewhat chary about accepting the views expressed by the Queensland meteorologist and Sir George Simpson, head of the British Meteorological Office, asked him to put them forward in scientific terms. Mr. Jones prophesied that there would be heavy rain while the conference was in session, but, alas, he in'oved a false prophet. "Several prominent New Zealanders took part in the discussions," said Dr. Focken. "These included Dr. E. Kidson, Professor R. Speight, Mr. Gilbert Archev, director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum; Professor H. G. Denham and Dr. Patrick Marshall, of Wellington. Dr. Marshall was elected president for the next congress, to be held in Adelaide in 1941. Professor Denham gave the important Liversidge Memorial lecturo by invitation. He dealt with modern developments in chemistry, his lecture being one of the features of the congress. "The big attraction, however, was Mr. H. G. Wells, whose talks were most provocative and well attended. His talks held the attention of the audience right through, and when he addressed a meeting in the Albert Hall it was filled to overflowing, although it was a hot, sticky night. Those who could not find room inside the hall took up positions on the lawns."