§ Mr. TASKERasked the Secretary of State for Air whether his attention has been drawn to the waste of public money recently caused by the Air Ministry sending down an inspector to Lincoln for the purpose of inspecting a nonexistent meteorological station, and what was the cause of this mistake?
§ Sir S. HOAREI am glad to have an opportunity of correcting the misconception which appears to have arisen in this case. No special journey was undertaken for the purpose mentioned, and there was no waste of public money. The facts are, that an inspector, who had in any case to inspect the meteorological station maintained by the City of Lincoln, took the opportunity of visiting at the same time a private address there, to which a rain-gauge had been supplied, but found on inquiry that the gauge had been purchased for a third person and was not in use at the address given. I might explain that our rainfall statistics depend on the public spirit of individual contributors, and it is, there-286W fore, desirable to get into touch with any likely person in possession of a rainguage whenever suitable opportunity offers.