History of Research in the Bureau of Meteorology
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
Chapter 1: Germination and Growth
Chapter 2: Struggle, Competition and Emergence
The Struggle for Recognition
International Involvement
Local Cooperation
The Bureau Goes Solo
Conclusion
Retrospect
Appendix 1: Meteorology Act 1906
Appendix 2: Meteorology Act 1955
Appendix 3: Simpson Report
Appendix 4: Survey Questionnaire
Appendix 5: Bibliography
References
Index
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One more nail was driven into ANMRC's coffin when the matter came to the attention of the 1981 Review of Commonwealth Functions[61], the Lynch 'Razor Gang' committee, which was charged with making drastic cuts in government expenditure. This committee reviewed the findings of the Howson committee and decided that all atmospheric research should be undertaken by one organisation, that is, either the Bureau or CSIRO, and that the rationalisation of research between the Bureau and ANMRC, as recommended by the Howson committee, should begin immediately.
The Review of Commonwealth Functions decision to bring all atmospheric research under the one umbrella jeopardised the plans and aspirations of the key players from both CSIRO and the Bureau for the future development of their respective bodies. It is no wonder then, that as Lonergan[53] points out, both the Department of Science and Technology and CSIRO were most unimpressed with the idea and argued, publicly anyway, that ANMRC was doing good work for the science of meteorology in general and the Bureau in particular. At the same time, CSIRO[23] stoutly maintained that their right to be involved in meteorological research was allowed under their Act. However, they and the Department eventually gave up the fight and allowed the rationalisation to proceed.
In spite of the government's ready acceptance of this decision, it took some time before the Centre was finally disbanded in 1984, together with the Bureau's Research and Development Branch. During this period, Zillman commissioned a confidential report by Priestley into the Bureau's research capacity, bearing in mind the Bureau's current capabilities and commitments and recent developments in this area.
People in Bright Sparcs - Priestley, Charles Henry Brian (Bill); Stout, Reginald William (Reg); Zillman, John William
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© Online Edition Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre and Bureau of Meteorology 2001
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