CONDITIONS ABROAD

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1920, Page 4

CONDITIONS ABROAD

AN UNSETTLED WORLD. IMPRESSIONS OF LIEUT.-COL. D C. BATES.

Some intei'estiug observations upon conditions abroad were made to a 1 Nte\v Zealand! Tipjes ” reporter by Lieut.-Col. D. C. Bates, Government Meteorologist, who returned to New Zealand some days ago after attending meterorological conferences in England and France. Col. Bates, who was accompanied by his wife, journeyed Home by way of America (Panama), and' after visiting England, Scotland, and France, returned by the ss. Port Pii'ie, via the Cape of Good Hope route. Absent from the Dominion for about six months, be had a strenuous period abroad. Apart from the sittings of the conferences, which he states were very tedious, no experienced very long passages to and from the Old Country, particularly on the return journey, which was not relieved by a call at any port between Hull and Sydney. Col. Bates estimated that he spent fully two-thirds of his time on the water.

’ THE STATE OF THIE WORLD. “ Everywhere 1 went I found things unsettled, and there was a want of stability in everything, political, social, moral and religious all over the world. The great trouble, of course, is the depreciation of money values that has taken place. There have 1 been several years of destruction, and construction has not yet got back into full swing again People are also resting after their labours during the war, and many of them are enjoying well-earned, and some illgotten gains. Ex-soldiers are l'ecuperating from their labours, recovering health and from wounds; it will lie a long time before they get tneir necks into the collar again

“ Capital is very uneasy for many reasons; many businesses are suffering from inflation, and others from depres. si on Tlie inflation of the market is in my opinion the most difficult - problem, because there are so many conflicting elements.”

meteorological research. En route to England, Colonel Bates touched at Panama Canal, Newport News, Norfolk, and Washington, visiting the weather bureau at the latter port. He learned there that 2,500,000 dollar? were being spent annually on meteorological work at that institution. In England he also inspected the inmost workings of the meteorological systems, both military an civil, and made the acquaintance of the leading meteorologists of the world, discussing many important problems with them. As far as he could learn' there had been no fundamental changes or discoveries made during the war. The price of nil instruments had been increased tremendously, and few were even available. Turning to the, object of his visit to the Old Country, Mr Bates said that a conference of meteorologists was held in London ,nt which all the British dominions (except Newfoundland), and somo of the Crown Colonies were represented. Early in October an international conference, held every ten years sat in Paris and there was a great gathering of meterlogists from all parts of the world. Both conferences were presided over by Sir Napier Shaw, Director of the British Meteorological Office, and in Paris there were about sixty delegates present. The deliberations lasted for eight or nine days, and were conducted entirely in French. The work was 1 very trying, Committee meeting being held at intervals, and Colonel Bates ■ was elected a member of the permanent maritime committee, and also 1 to the agricultural committee, He was specially asked to investigate the subject of the adoption of universal storm warnings, to| be used in all parts of the world, to advise navigators of weather disturbances. At present each country practically goes its own way in regard to warning signals, and there is consequently much, confusion. Colonel Bates said that it was desired that the international commission should meet again in three years’ time, instead of ten, because the problems were so numerous and thp conditions that had to be contended with at the recent conference were so unsettled that they could npt give finality to many subjects' The next conference would probably he at Amsterdam. The meteorologists. of the British Dominions seriously, spoke of coining to New Zea-. land for an Empire conference at some time in the future, and Cplonel Bates assured them that the New Zealand Government would .bo very pleased to welcome them, THE, FUTURE.

“In regard to the future,” said Mr Bates in conclusion, “it is quite certain that the dignity of labour will have to bo recognised by capital. In the trenches men were organised to win the battle, and were given the plan of campaign; then afterwards rewards and honours were shared. Too often in the industrial world the rewards and honours go only to tlije capitalists, while the worker parts with his interests on the day when ho loses his health and his job. This reconstructed world will need a wise, direction and a strong Government. Men, however, will never bo contented to let some lead lives of luxury and ease at the expense of others who are more deserving. It beliqves everyone to endeavour to lead a usefull life; in a community like this there should he no unemployment, for to my mind the one thing needed is more population, more industry, and a working patriotism that will make this country really and truly a Britain of the south I don’t think the League of Nations will cause wars to cease, for I feel sure there has never been so much haW and national jealousy as there m at the nrosent. Though the war has for a B time exhausted warlike ardour yet while human nature remains t Lmo history will repeat itself; and wo shall have to better not only the economJ world,- lmt our existence as a nation.”