Research, Development and Special Investigations

The emphasis within the Bureau had always rested on investigation aimed at providing a meteorological service to meet current and anticipated needs of the various sectors of the Australian public. To say that the resources available to the Bureau to meet these needs were totally inadequate does not mean that the Commonwealth Government was insensitive to the importance of meteorological services. The vast stretches of our continent, the brief period of European settlement and our tiny population placed heavy demands on the limited resources used to build a basic infrastructure for our newly-created nation.

It was not surprising that Warren, like the Director (Commonwealth Meteorologist)s who preceded him, saw that the Bureau needed a solid base of data-gathering and data-processing facilities on which to build the post-war Bureau. He also realised that he would need staff with the scientific, technical and management skills to devise and supervise the systems for using those facilities to provide the services needed.

Among the skills required in his staff were those for undertaking research, development and special investigations. J. C. Foley had had experience in the Tasmanian Divisional Office and in the Climate Section of the Bureau's Central Office.

The committee formed to scrutinise applicants for the position of Chief Scientific Officer was not impressed by the suitability of J. C. Foley or J. Hogan (1896–1970) and concluded that H. M. Treloar, although academically qualified, did not have capability to provide leadership to a group of more than a few people. Although the committee preferred W. J. Gibbs for appointment to the position of CSO, Warren persuaded them that J. C. Foley should be appointed with the proviso that Gibbs be promoted to the position of Supervising Meteorologist (Research).

Bureau of Meteorology