H.— 37

Air Force Stations. A Meteorological Office is maintained at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch, with a staff of two professional officers, two junior assistants, and two airmen meteorologists. The chief function of the Christchurch Office is the provision of instruction in meteorology for Air Force trainees. In addition, it acts as a forecasting centre for all local flying activities and is one of the principal synoptic stations making regular pilot balloon observations in addition to full weather reports at 6 a.m., 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m., 6 p.m., and midnight. . A professional meteorologist, with an airman assistant, took up duty at Ohakea and Blenheim as soon as the regular training programme started at these aerodromes. In each case the main duty of the meteorologist is that of instructing pilots and observers, but a limited amount of observational and forecasting work is also carried out. At all three aerodromes every opportunity is taken of having aerological observations made whenever an aeroplane is available for making a flight to considerable heights. Apia Observatory. Following a recommendation of the Observatories Committee of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the control of Apia Observatory, for administrative purposes, was transferred to the Meteorogical Office on the Ist September, 1939. In recent years meteorology has played an increasingly important part in the work of the observatory. The new system of administration has the advantage of facilitating the regular interchange of professional staff between the observatory and the Meteorological Office. I have, &c., M. A. F. Barnett, Director, Meteorological Office.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given ; printing (720 copies), .£37 10s.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington. —1940. Price 9d.]

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