13

A.—2.

will automatically cease. If, moreover, the schedule system is brought into force at all ports at which the crews of foreign-going ships are discharged, the use of insurance cards and stamps as a means of collecting the contributions will cease, and the need for officers to keep stocks of such cards and stamps will disappear. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

No. 17. New Zealand, Dominions No. 299. Sir, — Downing Street, 31st May, 1928. I have the honour to state, for the information of His Majesty's Government in New Zealand, that the Air Council have had under consideration the desirability of endeavouring to arrange for a Conference of official meteorologists from all parts of the Empire. 2. The need for such a Conference has arisen from several causes — (a) The great advance which has been made since the war in meteorological science and its applications to practical problems : (b) The increasing use of weather information by ships at sea : (c) The development of aviation, especially the increasing frequency of extensive flights between the various parts of the Empire : (d) The proposal to establish Imperial airship lines. 3. Each of these developments call for greater co-operation between the different meteorological services of the Empire, so that uniform methods of making observations, tabulations of data, and exchange of information by cable or radio-telegraphy may be adopted so far as possible throughout the Empire. 4. A list of the subjects which could be usefully discussed at the Conference is enclosed. 5. I shall be glad to be informed whether His Majesty's Government in New Zealand would be willing to be represented at the proposed Conference. The date cannot be fixed at present, as it would seem desirable that it should be held in London prior to the next meeting of the International Meteorological Conference, of which all Directors of official meteorological services are members, so that the Directors may attend both Conferences while in Europe. The International Conference is to be held between July and October, 1929, but the place of meeting and date have not yet been arranged. I have, &c., L. S. AMERY. Governor-General His Excellency General Sir C. Fergusson, Bart., LL.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D.5.0., M.V.0., &c.

Enclosure. Subjects for Discussion at the Proposed Conference of British Meteorologists. I. Marine Meteorology : — (a) Uniform meteorological logs. (b) Collection of data from ships by wireless—uniform methods and codes. (c) Issue of weather information to ships by broadcast wireless messages—desirable that the form of the messages should be the same. (d) Encouragement of the exchange of weather information from ship to ship on a uniform and approved scheme. (e) Storm warnings and storm signals. (/) Use of the Hollerith system so that data can easily be exchanged. (g) Times of observations of ships at sea. (h) Uniform methods of estimating ocean currents.