34. Mr. MALONEasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware of the extent to which wireless telephony is being utilised in France to assist agriculture by broadcasting a weather bulletin 2056 twice daily from the national meteorological office; and whether any similar schemes are in contemplation for this country?
Captain GUESTI have been asked to answer this question. Pending the result of inquiries which are being made, I have no information, other than that which has appeared in the Press, as to the French arrangements for issuing weather forecasts to agriculturists by wireless telephony. The feasibility of using wireless telephony for this purpose in this country is at present under consideration. I may say, however, that the Air Ministry issues daily by means of wireless telegraphy a number of weather reports which could be of considerable use to agriculturists, and with a view to meeting the case of agriculturists and others possessing, or about to instal, wireless receiving apparatus, a pamphlet giving particulars regarding these messages and instructions as to their reception and utilisation has been prepared and will he issued in the course of a few days. In addition, the pre-War arrangement by which afternoon forecasts were issued during the harvest season was extended two years ago, so as to enable a farmer, on payment of the cost of telegraphing, to obtain a special forecast at any time which suited his individual need.