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The preparation of forecasts supplied to the press and issued over the radio forms the principal routine task of the General Forecasting Section. In addition to the three main broadcasts over the stations of the National Broadcasting Service, forecasts are issued each day to eleven morning papers and twenty-eight evening newspapers distributed throughout the country. Forecasts for shipping in the New Zealand area are broadcast twice daily, and, in addition, coastal shipping is catered for by broadcasts of selected weather reports from coastal stations in New Zealand. These reports are transmitted twice daily by radio telephone from Musick Point, Wellington, and Awarua Radio Stations. Another routine duty of the Wellington Forecasting Office has been a telephone discussion each day with the load-dispatcher of the Hydro-electric Department at Hamilton on the likelihood of rain in the catchment areas in which they are interested and the possibility of major changes in loading due to sudden variations in temperature throughout the North Island. Catchment Boards have been advised on all occasions when it is considered that exceptionally heavy rain may cause flooding, while the Harbourmasters at the major ports in New Zealand receive daily advice of weather which may affect local shipping activities. Forecasts during periods of fire danger have been supplied to the State Forest Service, and considerable forecasting has been done during the past year for N.Z. Aerial Mapping, Ltd., the planning of whose work depends primarily on weather conditions. Replies to individual requests for forecasts have constituted a major section of the forecasters' work. In this connection, farmers and others wanting individual forecasts are encouraged to give as much notice as possible of their requirements. Replies to such inquiries from a distance are normally sent by " collect" telegram. The farming community has taken considerable advantage of this service, some of them asking to be notified on all occasions over a period of some months when certain weather conditions were to be expected. Two important forecasting projects during the year were that for the Agriculture Department in their attempt to minimize the danger of facial eczema among sheep during the unusually warm dry period in middle and late summer, and that for the G.s.s." Matai " while repairing submarine cable in the vicinity of Cape Brett and Norfolk Island. The latter forecasts were issued from the Mechanics Bay office in Auckland. In both cases the forecasts provided proved of considerable value. Collection and Dissemination of Synoptic Information. —As a prerequisite to making the best use of all reports available, the rapid exchange of information is essential. The general supervision of the operation of the meteorological teleprinter network has been made the responsibility of the Wellington Forecasting Office. This network connects the radio stations and telegraph offices at Auckland and Wellington with the local meteorological offices, as well as linking the meteorological offices at Whenuapai, Mechanics Bay, Ohakea, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, Kelburn, Woodbourne, Wigram, and Taieri. In addition, the Wellington office prepares and broadcasts in international meteorological code from Post and Telegraph Department radio transmitters a selection of weather reports collected in the New Zealand area for the information of overseas meteorological authorities. These " collectives " comprise reports from land stations, ships, and aircraft, as well as upper-air information. Coded copies of the analyses of the surface-weather charts and of the chart for the 700 millibar level are also broadcast. In all, these coded messages total between 65,000 and 70,000 groups per month. In addition to its aviation activities, the meteorological office at Nandi Airport, in Fiji, has provided regular forecasts for the Fiji area for transmission by the broadcasting station in Suva and has maintained a system of hurricane warnings covering the South Pacific region. The Nandi office also broadcasts " collectives "of weather reports and a coded weather-map analysis for the South Pacific islands area.

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