VALUE OF METEOROLOGY

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1929, Page 9

VALUE OF METEOROLOGY

MOTION IN UPPER HOUSE. VARIOUS MEASURES DISCUSSED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. " Wellington, Last Night. ■ The Hon. G. J. Garland moved in tho Legislative Council to-day that in view of the vital importance of meteorology in aerial navigation (especially of air-. - ships), and in agriculture, the Council urge the Government to take steps: (1) The ensure the teaching of meteorology in public schools, and in one at least of the university colleges; (2) to increase . the staff and equipment of the meteorological office sufficiently to enable it to provide a complete and modern service, particularly for aviation and agriculture, and so to be enabled to devote adequate - time to research into the special problem/! of the Dominion. Mr. Garland said new observation stations should be established at Caihpbell Island, Sunday Island and Lord Howe Island as a commencement of a bigger scheme.. The Hoh. J. A. Hanan opposed the motion, asking what Mr. Garland would cut out of tho school syllabus to make room for.- tho new subject. Tho Leader of the Council, the Hon, T. K. Sidey, said the matter had not been overlooked in tho public schools and not entirely in the universities. The fundamentals of meteorolgy were includ-. ed in at least two of the degree courses. Ho referred to the recent improvements ■ made in tho meteorological service of tho Dominion. The Hon. G. M. Thomson expressed sympathy with the idea of the motion, but Sir Robert Stout described it as abt surd, as there were not sufficient teachers to teach the subjects in the schools, “Why teach children of ten years of ago to become weather prophets’/” he asked, ■' The motion was carried by 29 votes to SIX. ” j . . v ' I'-.' • The Land Laws Amendment Bill was received from tho House of Representatives and read a first time. Discussing the second reading of tho Local Authorities .Empowering (Avia* tion Encouragement) Bill, the Hon. A. S. Malcolm deprecated any move tending to increase local body 'rates, and questioned the wisdom of permitting local bodies to increase their liabilities in tliatj respect. If aviation were left to private enterprise it would advance more rapidly. There should be the safeguard o| a poll of ratepayers before a local body was permitted to borrow to spend money ' on landing grounds. The Hon. E. Newman agreed with Mr. Malcolm, adding that tho duty should bo on tho Government —not on local bodies—to provide for aviation. Tho Hon. XT. Barr said the principle of local bodies borrowing without the ratepayers’ permission had already been departed from in various instances, sub-, ject to safeguards. In tho present case a, resolution of a local body had to be confirmed at a subsequent meeting of which public no.tieo had been given. Mr. Sidey said it would bo admitted every important town would want a landing ground, which must be provided by tho Government or by a local body, and it was thought it should be done by tho former. The Air Minister at Homo had declared there was a liability on tho local authorities to provide landing places. Tho Local Bodies Loans Board, would be a sufficient safeguard against excessive expenditure in tho cities. Th©’ Bill was read a second time. The Marriage Amendment Bill was reported from the committee with minor amendments made by the Statutes Re* vision Committee. Tho Council adjourned at 4 p.m. until to-morrow.