Weather Forecasting For

The South-West Pacific

From a Special Correspondent

Canberra, May 11.

GOVERNMENT experts here say post war forecasting of tropical weather will be 100 per cent, more accurate than it was pre-war.

They claim that the extensive tropi cal research that resulted in Allied Forces knowing exactly what conditions they would meet in Rabaul raids, in the Bismarck Sea battle, and the parachute landing at Nadzab, will greatly benefit post-war New Guinea and other islands north of Australia.

During the war, Australia’s meteorolo gical service covered the entire South west Pacific, an area of more than 15,000,000 square miles.

New meteorological stations were formed in Australia and Malaya, and meteorological services and communica tions were provided at Ambon, Namlea, Koepang, Rabaul, Tulagi, Vila and Noumea.

Tropical stations will continue to use wartime radar to track down swiftly moving storms—it was found during the war that weather-forecasting methods successful in temperate zones yielded but poor results in the tropics. The tropi cal research section, therefore, developed new methods of analysis which were highly successful. These techniques will continue to be developed in peace.

There were dozens of wartime fore casting stations in the islands—from Port Moresby to Biak. and from Torokina to Tarakan.

A Canberra official said to-day: “The Australian Weather Bureau is now re turning to its civil footing and is form ing plans for expanded services both on the mainland and in the islands.

“Its work will have greater application in scientific research, while Government authorities concerned with agriculture, water supply, and forestry development will make increasing use of the informa tion which can be provided by present day forecasting technique.”

Information concerning the welfare or otherwise of two young natives, called Peter and Paul, in the Treasury Islands (northern British Solomons) is sought by Mr. B. C. F. Haverbiek, Box 86, Whaka tane, New Zealand. It appears that Peter and Paul were able to render considerable helpful service to members of the New Zealand Eighth Brigade, when the New Zealanders were co-operating with the Americans in freeing the Solomons from the Japanese, and some of the New Zea landers would like to keep in touch with these friendly natives. Anyone with in formation to impart is invited to write to Mr. Haverbiek.