LXXXVIII PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



argued by me elsewhere that at the maximum glaciation in Permo- 

 Carboniferous time there was a fall of temperature in Australia 

 equal to about 15° to 20° F. This may have been largely brought 

 about by the huge polar coiitinent entirely stopping any large 

 southerly ocean currents, and so removing what is at present one 

 of the most potent means of transfer of heat from the Equator to 

 the Poles. 



Passing now to a related matter I wish to strongly urge that 

 more may be done for meteorology in the future than in the past. 



In the first place, steps might be taken to establish, at least, a 

 few observing stations in the heart of the Australian meteorological 

 desert, which lies between Nullagine, in Western Australia, and 

 the MacDonnell Ranges. 



Next, there is the question of investigating the upper atmo- 

 sphere by means of kites and small balloons carrying detachable 

 self -registering instruments. By these means the height and 

 movement and temperature of that important isothermal layer of 

 the atmosphere can also be determined. 



Next, and this is particularly important, in my opinion, with 

 a view to spreading a knowledge and creating a real and live 

 interest in this beautiful science, a proposal has been made, 

 emanating from the able Director of the Federal Meteorological 

 Bureau, Mr. Hunt, that a competent ofl&cer be appointed to visit 

 the Australian Universities in turn, opening about one term at 

 each of the six Universities of the Commonwealth, so that all our 

 students for at least one term every two years will have an oppor- 

 tunity of sharing in the delightful and instructive problems pre- 

 sented by our Australian Meteorology. 



It may be mentioned in this connexion that a lectureship in 

 meteorology at the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agricultural 

 College, an event of significance both to meteorology and agricul- 

 ture, has already been established, and this has been done by a 

 nation not prone to expenditure on that which profiteth not. 



This scheme for providing a peripatetic professor of meteor- 

 logy, who could be supplied at a minimum of cost to the 

 Universities, has already been warmly approved by the 

 Universities, and I venture to hope that our Association unani- 

 mously wishes to see this professorship an accomplished fact. 



Next, there is the important question raised by Mr. Halligan, 

 in his excellent paper dealing with the ocean currents around 

 Australia, as to whether our legislators will some day be impressed 



